Elizabeth “Bette” (Ross) Wood
On July 22, 2024, not long after her adult children had said their goodbyes, Elizabeth “Bette” (Ross) Wood passed away at the age of 85 at an assisted care facility in Essex, VT.
Predeceased by her husband Lynn in 2019, Bette leaves behind a legacy of love and family forged through 58 years of marriage.
Born in Rumford, Maine on Oct. 7, 1938, she was the only daughter of Theodore and Lucy (Small) Ross. Bette spent her childhood in Maine, enjoying summers on Rangeley Lake. Her family moved to St. Albans, VT in 1956, where she attended Bellows Free Academy. At BFA, she met Lynn Wood, whom she would marry on August 26, 1961. Bette went on to attend Burlington Business School.
Active members of the St. Albans community, Lynn and Bette raised four children and owned and operated George S. Wood Inc., an iconic, family-owned tire and repair shop.
She was an avid supporter of her children and grandchildren while they competed in youth and high school sports, but she also had a fondness for other sports. She was a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan and loved college basketball, especially the Arizona Wildcats. She actively participated in NCAA March Madness brackets every year – even winning one year.
Bette found her happy place in 1989 when she and Lynn built their home on the family property on Lake Champlain in Milton. There, she decorated, gardened, and gathered with loved ones. It was a place for her to cultivate her definition of home with each spectacular sunset. She ran a Bed & Breakfast there for several years, happy to share the lakeside magic with people from around the world. In their later years, Bette and Lynn wintered in Tucson, Arizona where she relished her time in the Grand Canyon State. She and Lynn forged valuable friendships there and she delighted in bringing Southwestern decor back to Vermont.
Up until her final breath, Bette’s greatest loves were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She valued the special bond they shared. With them, she found comfort and peace in her final years.
She leaves behind her four children and their spouses: Chris Wood, Allison & Donald Dean, Sarah & John Lovelette, and Andrew & Erin Wood. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Cameron, Jillian, Liza (Ryan), Colby, and Liam Wood; Alex (Bella), Owen (Avery), and Madeline Dean; Hanna, Ben (Lindsey), and Emma Lovelette; Meghan and Connor Wood; and three great-grandchildren: Braedyn and Parker Dean; Palmer Figaro; and soon-to-be baby girl Dean.
She is also survived by her younger brother Steve Ross and his wife, Maureen; a sister-in-law Shirley Wood; cousin and friend Mary Foster; and her special friend Marge Hamrell.
Bette was predeceased by Lynn, her parents, in-laws George and Greeta Wood, and brothers-in-law George and Jack Wood.
Bette will always be remembered for her love of red geraniums, antiques, knitting, Lake Champlain, Maine, Arizona, baking, Volkswagen Beetles, birds, lobsters, mowing her lawn, desserts, and her beloved dog, Winston, who was faithful and unwavering. Winston was her constant companion for the final five years of her life.
Bette’s family gives special thanks to Maureen Ross for helping care for her in her home as long as possible – no small feat with elder care. UVM Hospice provided excellent care, as did Mansfield Place who warmly accepted Bette into their facility when many would not. Bette’s final weeks were spent there, and she received the comfort and compassion she deserved.
Bette’s family will receive family and friends on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from 4 – 7 pm at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans.
Services will be private and at the convenience of Bette’s family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain online or at PO Box 1145, St. Albans, VT 05478.
To send the Wood family a message of condolence, or to share a memory, kindly go to Bette’s online guest book at www.healdfuneralhome.com
