Helen (Coleman) Wood celebrated her 104th birthday with family and friends on July 28th 2021.  On August 19, 2021, she passed peacefully in her Marblehead home after receiving Last Rites.

She was born in Salem, and lived with her brother Francis, and her mother.  Her father Michael passed before her birth.  After marrying Murray Wood,  a Canadian- naturalized US citizen, she  completed secretarial courses in Boston, and gave birth to their first son, Jim. They moved to Ohio in 1944, and  New York in 1948 where their second and third sons were born: Don (OH) and Kevin (NY).  She  joined a New York City law firm as a paralegal and made the daily commute between Long Island and the city.

She worked as a librarian  at Garden City Middle School on Long Island for two decades, but relocated to Marblehead after Murray passed in 1978.

For several years, she managed the business of a local entrepreneur,  travelled frequently to Ireland, her mother and father's birth country.  Her last visit was made at age 99.  And enjoyed visits from her daughters-in-law (Nancy and Barbara) her 3  children, 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Services are being arranged by the Murphy Funeral Home in Salem.  Visitation will be from 4 PM to 6 PM on Thursday, September 2 ^nd at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street. A Mass will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church starting at 11 AM on Friday, September 3 ^rd . Interment will be in St Mary's Cemetery next to her brother, mother, and father.  Any donations should be sent in her name to Our Lady Star of the Sea, 85 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, MA 01945. For more information or online guestbook please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.murphyfuneralhome.com.

A life well-lived…