Regina "Gene" Maria Woods

NORFOLK — Regina "Gene" Maria Woods, 92, of Canton, formerly a 60-year resident of Norfolk, died peacefully on April 22, 2007.

She was the widow of John E. Woods, and was a much-loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and teacher.

She was born in New York City on May 4, 1914, the only child of the late Rose (McMahon) and George Walter. She graduated from Bronxville High School and the Froebel League School in New York City, a private teacher’s college. While there she was selected to host Eleanor Roosevelt when the first lady visited.

She began her teaching career 73 years ago in New York City. She married and, when their third child was born, the Woods moved to Norfolk. While raising three children, teaching, and getting her fourth-year college degree at Central Connecticut State University, she also cared for her husband, who was bedridden with tuberculosis for 10 years.

She taught kindergarten for 10 years at Norfolk Center School and first grade for 14 years at Colebrook Consolidated School.

She was a member of the Connecticut Teachers Association, the Norfolk Country Club (she and her husband were avid golfers), the Norfolk Curling Club (traveling to other clubs on ‘Bonspiels’), the Norfolk Garden Club, the Women’s Bridge Club, the Woman’s University Club and the Immaculate Conception Church.

She is survived by two daughters and a son, Laurel Ann and Earl Carta of Madison, Georgene "Gigi" and Norman St. Peter of Burlington, and John "Jay" and Jan Woods of El Dorado Hills, Calif.; her grandchildren, Sheryl and Daniel Phillips, Elizabeth and Richard Connelly, David and Lisa Iacino, Michele Iacino and Jeffrey and Cory Iacino; 10 adored great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Megan, Bridget and Erin Phillips, Emily, Andrew and Kailey Connelly, and John, Emilia and David Iacino.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Cherry Brook Health Care Center in Canton, to the fourth-floor staff at the University of Connecticut Medical Center in Farmington, and to the hospice program at Farmington Valley VNA.

Donations in her memory may be sent to Our Lady of Mercy School Scholarship Fund, 149 Neck Road, Madison, CT 06443.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Mark Suslenko at 12 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at Immaculate Conception Church in Norfolk. Burial will follow at South Norfolk Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care of the Kenny Funeral Home in Norfolk.