Mary Margaret Wood

Mary Margaret Schrefer Wood of Centennial, CO went home to be with our Lord on February 29, 2016. Mary was born in Denver on October 19, 1926 to Joe and Vera Schrefer. Mary's long and full life was highlighted by many things. First and foremost, she loved God and was strong in her Catholic faith. She loved her family: parents Joe and Vera, her husband of over 67 years, Fred, her ten children, Norman (Sue), Richard, Marilyn (Ron), Steve, Deb (Ray), George (Linda), Regina (Doug), Theresa (John), Tom and Kim (Chris). In addition, she was the doting Grandma to Mike (Jill), Tracey, Christine (Jared), Brad, Jeff, Katy, Anna, Joe, Steve and Kiefer. Her great grandchildren are Dana, Hayden, Lily, Jacob, Amelia and Sam. While Mary had only one brother, John, who died in infancy, she inherited numerous brothers and sisters-in-law when she married into Fred's very large family. She also had aunts, uncles and cousins from her mom and dad's families and got to spend time with many of them as she grew up. Among Mary's other loves were gardening, traveling, singing in the church choir, taking care of her home and nurturing relationships with family, neighbors and friends. Various family pets enjoyed Mary's loving care over the years as well and she was especially fond of cats in her later years. Growing up, Mary made a number of ""road trips"" with her parents, often times to visit her mom and dad's families in upstate New York and rural Minnesota. These journeys also included activities along the way of a tourist nature, including taking in a World's Fair in Chicago, visiting Notre Dame University and also taking some trips that were strictly for vacation. Later Mary was able to take some major trips with Fred and some of her children. These included two trips to Hawaii, a trip to Alaska which included cruise time, train time and bus time. She was able to go to Disneyland and Disney World with kids and grandkids several times and made trips to Washington D.C., northern California, the Pacific Northwest, as well as road trips to visit in-laws and reunions with Fred's World War II bomber crew. She enjoyed all the sights and activities of these ""adventures."" Closer to home, Mary loved trips to the nearby mountains. She made early trips there with her parents, usually camping out on the property of a friend of her dad's. These trips resulted in her meeting and eventually marrying Fred. Later she was able to take her kids and grandkids to several different cabins on Wood family and other nearby properties. The fun of these trips will live forever in the memories of all who were fortunate enough to participate. She also loved the Labor Day weekend train trips to Glenwood Springs that many family members did for many years. She always said it was the highlight of her year. Mary loved to garden, both at her Denver home and at the various cabins as well. And, she was an avid explorer of the mountain wildflowers. She studied field guides about them and made notes of ones she had actually seen and collected. She also decorated her Denver gardens with rocks and driftwood collected in the mountains. And, while her children balked and resisted, Mary did her best to photographically record most family events and has left a treasure of photo albums, all well marked with names, dates and comments. Just one of the many gifts she quietly and generously gave her family. Mary was a wonderful woman and will be greatly missed by so many. The family takes comfort in knowing that Mary's end-of-life physical and mental struggles are now over and she is with God and family members who pre-deceased her. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 6 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel at 5303 E. County Line Road in Centennial. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2735 E. Arizona Ave., Denver, on Monday, March at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 12801 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge. Rather than flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association. Please share your condolences and memories of Mary by signing the guestbook below.