Metilda Wood
July 13, 2017
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Service Details
After circling the sun 94 times, Metilda R. “Tillie” Wood (nee Sluder) of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away peacefully while surrounded by her adoring family on July 13, 2017. Tillie was born and raised in Cripple Creek, Colo. June 3, 1923, the oldest of five children who, after their mother died in 1932, was more “mom” than sister, which became her life’s legacy. After “falling in love at first sight” with Robert L. Wood, she moved with him to Des Moines around 1941.
Known as “mom” and “gram” to her family and to anyone fortunate enough to cross paths with her, she was a selfless, loving, caring and devoted mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend. Some of her favorite things were to spend time with the family she loved, provide whatever she could for those she cared about, beat her son at dominoes, set the phone receiver on the kitchen table when telemarketers started talking, fatten people up with her cherry chocolate cake and spoil her pets. She loved, and was loved, immensely, and she gave endlessly. A caretaker for all, for life.
Tillie leaves to cherish her memories: son Robert L. Wood, Jr. (Frances), daughter Judith Coleman, brother Virgle Sluder, grandchildren Rodney Wood (Cindy), Peter Wood, Jenny Wood (Denise), Nathan Wood (Johanna), great-grandchildren Ronda, Calvin and Naomi, and great-great-grandson Khaos, as well as her numerous special “children”, among them nieces JoyC Stajcar and Vicki McCoy and her special “grandchildren” Melanie Grambal, Roger Johnson, Amie Shine Labus and many more too numerous to name.
Memorial contributions to the American Heart Association or the Kidney Foundation may be made in lieu of flowers.
Visitation, Monday, July 17, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Funeral service, Monday, July 17 at 12:00 p.m.; both at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. Interment follows at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery with lunch to follow.
F.G.D.
07/17/2019
Still missing you daily, gram.
Dixie Belluchi-Watters
07/16/2017
So honored to call this remarkable and genuine woman "Aunt Tillie". The matriarch of the family for so many years. She had the class and grace that can not be achieved by time, or books, or effort, she was simply born with it, and carried it through out her "94 trips around the sun". I will miss the stories, information and wisdom she happily shared, anytime I asked and prodded. I will continue my journey , knowing I was her favorite. As I am sure, many others feel the same. Tillie was one of a handful of people, with the uncanny ability to make whomever she was talking to, or visiting with at any given moment, feel that they where "her favorite person in the world", that there was no other , that she would rather be with at that moment in time. As much as I will miss and grieve the loss of my beautiful Aunt Tillie, I rejoice in the knowledge of her reunion, with her own mother, who she lost at a very young age, Uncle Bob, the love of of her life, her sisters , and my own mother, who loved her as a sister, and everyone else, who loved and was loved by her. Godspeed Tillie, I love you.
Anita Kovic
07/14/2017
Although I didn't see Tilly very often, my recollections are of a beautiful woman who lived a life devoted to her family and all those who were fortunate enough to be a part of her life. My sincere condolences are with you all. May memories soothe and bring a smile to your heart in reminiscing your times together with her.