Jane Lucie (Thyssens) Wood

Jane Lucie (Thyssens) Wood   August 19, 1926 – March 28, 2024

With great sadness, we announce the peaceful death of our family matriarch, Jane Lucie Wood. Friend to animals, master of pastries, virtuoso of needle and thread, and reviver of geraniums - she was an extraordinary woman by any standard.

Our beloved grandma was born on August 19, 1926, to Henri and Madeleine Thyssens, in Liège, Belgium. The second of two children, she and her sister Georgette lived their formative years resisting fascism from Nazi invaders. In her late teen years, she learned English, on her own, and became a devout Catholic. Nearing the end of WWII, at her sister’s wedding, she met her future husband, Bert Wood. They would marry soon after and eventually move to the U.S. via passenger ship, while she was pregnant with the first of five children.

After giving birth to her first child, grandma and grandpa made several moves across the country, growing their family along the way, and eventually settling down in St. Regis before their fifth and final child was born.

Grandma was a devoted mother and wife, supporting grandpa’s adventures and reluctantly accepting his business shenanigans. She was intelligent, beautiful, graceful, dignified, determined and savvy. Her most formidable trait was her wit, often concealed beneath her humility. It was only after grandpa’s death that we realized grandma was the mastermind behind every practical joke.  She was a staunch conservationist and peaceful animal activist, who quietly placed charity above all.

Grandma is survived by her children Madeleine Waibel of St. Regis, MT, Kenneth (Teri) Wood of Ashley, ND, Lawrence (Dorothy) Wood of Castroville, TX, Rosalind Schreckendgust of St. Regis, MT, 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, cousin Jacques (Casman) Thyssens, Oupeye, Belgium, and her loving and loyal cats, Tommy and Tippy. She was preceded in death by husband Bert, sister Georgette Zaharko, son Bruce Wood, and grandson Ryan Wood.

Our family would like to extend a special thank you to Jeannette and Kim from the Jack Lincoln Clinic, caregivers Chris, Crystal and Abril, and Partners in Home Care for their compassionate end-of-life Hospice services.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 6 at 10am at St. Mary Queen of Heaven in Superior, MT, followed by a Celebration of Life at the St. Regis Community Center.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a local animal shelter.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Jane Lucie (Thyssens) Wood, please visit our Tree Store.