Catherine Elizabeth Wood

With heavy hearts, our family shares the passing of Cathy who left us peacefully on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 79 years of age.

Born in Winnipeg, MB to her late parents Charles (Chuck) and Dorothy (Dot) Gibson, Cathy was the second of four children. She spent her early years in Moncton, NB with her older brother David and younger siblings Linda and Tom, before continuing her formative years in Brampton, ON.

After high school, Cathy worked in secretarial roles until she became a stewardess in 1970. Her first posting took her back to Winnipeg, where she met wonderful friends and the love of her life, Richard (Rick) Wood. They married on June 26, 1971. Rick’s transfer to Edmonton brought them farther west, and they eventually settled in Spruce Grove to raise their family.

While raising her children, Cathy, always a lifelong learner, took university courses and enjoyed keeping busy with various part-time work as well as volunteering with Meals on Wheels. She loved gardening, cooking, entertaining, dancing, traveling, and golfing, and the friendships she made in Spruce Grove were lifelong.

As her children grew older and she had more time for full-time work, Cathy began her real estate career which she loved most. This later grew into a successful role with Investors Group, bringing her another wonderful circle of friends. Friendships always meant so much to Cathy.

In retirement, she spent her winters in Palm Springs, enjoying an active lifestyle. She treasured time with her grandchildren, welcoming them with homemade cookies, hot-tub swim parties, and birthdays celebrated with her chocolate money cake. At home, she was often in her backyard tending her gardens or relaxing on the front veranda with a book.

Her family was her pride and joy. She was loved by her husband Rick, son Daelan and wife Vanessa, daughter Sheilagh and husband Josh and her 5 grandchildren, Ryne and Quinn Wood, Grace, Abbey and Charlie Gaboury. She will be missed by her siblings David (Margaret), Linda (Rob) and Tom (Elana), Ralph (Delle), Randy (Trish) and her many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Cathy lived with dementia in her final years, yet she continued to meet life with resilience and was listening to her favorite music right up to the end.
Her caregiver, Hodon, supported her immensely in her final years. Their friendship and her dedicated care showed in the many hours they spent walking together, and right up to the end, Cathy’s nails were lovingly painted.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday March 7, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Whitemud Creek Community Hall, 951 Ogilvie Blvd NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6R 1K8. Please join us to share memories and celebrate Cathy’s life. There will be an informal program with refreshments to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Eldercare Edmonton Day Break Program using this link: https://eldercareedmonton.net/donate. In her final years, Cathy enjoyed the activities, connection, and sense of independence that the program provided.