Rose Riley Wood, 79, Tempe, AZ and Willsboro, NY died peacefully January 30th, 2014 with her husband Dan, daughter Althe, sister Teresa and nephew Glenn by her side.
She was born to the late Joseph (Chuck) and Beatrice Riley, October 8, 1934 in Willsboro, NY. Rose graduated from Willsboro Central School in 1952 and began a lifetime of work, which included over 30 years devoted to children. Rose had many talents and used them throughout her career. She used her artistic abilities as an art teacher, her athleticism as a PE teacher and then spent the majority of her career working with the most needy, medically fragile students at BOCES in Plattsburgh, NY. She received many accolades, recognitions and awards for her work. St Augustine's School Board members said of Rose, "[she] gave the gift of [herself] to countless children over the years; this cannot be valued monetarily but will love on in the life of each child [she] has touched."
Rose was an active member of the Catholic Church in her community and gave selflessly to others who were in need. Upon retirement, she and her husband traveled throughout the east coast and Florida, volunteering their time and talents to serve no only others but Florida State park systems and the environment. As a naturalist, she adored animals and our earth and took great care of them through her work.
Rose is survived by her loving husband of fifty years, Daniel Wood, her daughter Althe Allen and Grandson Noah Allen of Scottsdale, Arizona. She is also survived by her brother, Joseph Riley of Florida and sisters : Vivian LaForest, her husband Gary; Janis Sayward and Greg Bigelow, Teresa Sayward, her husband Ken, and all of New York; her brothers and sisters-in-law: Ken and Sandy Wood of Connecticut, Rex and Christine Wood and Judy and Doug Zeno, of New York. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held in her hometown this summer.