Michael Vincent Wood

Michael Vincent Wood, 77, of Miramichi (Douglastown) NB died on December 12, 2024, at Percy’s Place, peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was born on December 17, 1946, and was the youngest child of Charles and Irene (MacDonald) Wood.

Mike attended St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1970, and a Bachelor of Education in 1978.

He married Mary Jane Lordon on October 10, 1970, and they had 5 children, Jamie (Carie Perala), Melanie (Anthony Henman), Shelley (Charles Ford), Tim, (Maggie Cheung), and Elizabeth (Korey Avery).

Mike started his teaching career in 1970 at Harkins Junior High. After a few years there, he moved to elementary school in Douglastown and then to Gretna Green school where he spent most of his career teaching grades 4 and 5. He had a reputation for being the teacher everyone wanted to get because of the fun things he planned like trout fishing trips and any excuse to take the class outside.

His contests were another highlight for the students where the prize could be anything from a giant bubblegum to cash, even up to five dollars.

Always looking to be active, he walked to Gretna Green every day from his home on McKnight Street.

Mike loved baseball and played many seasons with the Chatham Senior Ironmen, where his role was relief pitcher. It was rumoured he sometimes threw a spitball when in a clutch situation but he never admitted to that even to the very end. He also loved hockey and always built a rink for the kids in the back yard. It was a hotbed of hockey from December to March and many skills were developed there by the neighbourhood kids who turned up daily. Mike coached minor hockey and minor baseball as well.

He also lent his teaching skills to religious education as he taught catechism at St. Samuel’s church for many years.

He was a beloved grandfather to 15 grandchildren, and proudly admitted to having one favourite, his firstborn, Lauren. The other 14 accepted this with grace as he also told them they were the best at anything they undertook. When Lauren played women’s hockey at St. Thomas University, he travelled to Fredericton for every home game, where he would be found standing behind the net she was shooting at, so he could give a play-by-play for every goal she scored. He delighted in all the games the grandkids played, and live streamed the ones from far away places. He would then relive and recount every time one would score or get an assist.

Mike is survived by his spouse, Jane Wood, his five children Jamie, Melanie, Shelley, Tim, and Elizabeth. Mike has 15 grandchildren, Matthew, Maggie and Celia Wood, Lauren, Luke, Riley and Lily Henman, Thomas, Peter and Claire Ford, Padraig and Tiernan Wood, Keifer, Brendan and Seamus Avery. He is survived by his siblings, Larry Wood (Betsy), Patsy Robichaud, and Barbara Ellen McCarthy. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Irene Wood, siblings Hugh Wood and James Wood.

Visitation will be held at Northumberland Funeral Home, 102 Pleasant Street, Miramichi, NB, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, on Monday, December 16, 2024. Funeral service will be at St. Samuel’s Roman Catholic Church, in Douglastown, Tuesday December 17, 2024 at 10:00 am, with Father Peter Aloo, SMMM, officiating.

Retired teachers are requested to gather prior to the funeral service, at St Samuel's Roman Catholic Church, no later than 9:30 AM, for designated seating during the service and the formation of an honour guard afterward.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Percy’s Place. Donations may be made online at www.percysplace.ca

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Northumberland Funeral Home & Crematorium, 102 Pleasant St., telephone (506) 622-7741. Where your loved one never leaves our care.