Maria Woods

Maria Como de Silva Woods of Fredericksburg, IA, passed away on Thursday, August 7, 2018, with her family by her side. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 10, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hampton, with Rev. Kevin Frey presiding. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg. Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 9, 2018, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Maria was born January 8, 1937 in Recife, Brazil. Her father, Giselle, died in a tragic accident before her birth and her Mother, Antonia, passed away from health conditions, shortly after she was born. Young Maria was raised by her Grandmother Ermina. As an adult, Maria worked at a resort hotel & restaurant in Recife, where in 1959 she met a handsome US Merchant Marine, James Woods, II. It was love at first sight and the two were united in marriage on April 15, 1960. They had two children James Jr. (Jim) and Ceu (Sally). The family left Brazil in 1971 and relocated to Fredericksburg, Iowa. Maria was proud of her Brazilian roots and also took great pride in earning her United States citizenship. Making their new home, Maria became a Certified Nursing Assistant at Sunrise Guest Home and later worked at Meinertz Creamery/Beatrice Cheese. Maria enjoyed tending to her flower garden and cooking for her family. She had a soft spot for animals, especially her dogs. She enjoyed going for walks around town, playing lotto and trying her luck at the slot machines. She was a prankster and had a signature laugh that could make anyone smile. She loved spending time with her children and being a Gamma and Great Gamma. Most recently, Maria resided at Colonial Manor in Elma where she enjoyed winning BINGO, going on shopping trips with her friends, listening to music, dancing and collecting hats. She was a devoted Catholic her entire life. She is survived by her son, Jim Woods Jr. III; daughter Sally (Dean) Liddle; by her grandchildren, Deja Woods, Jordan Woods, Zachary Woods, Tia Woods and Natasha Woods, Chrissy (Bill) Sellon, Sue Liddle, Andrea Erion, Shelly Erion, Alicia (Chris) Grimm, Nicholas (Amber) Erion, Janelle Erion (Russell Willett); great-grandchildren, Hugo & Yara Winsor, Cofie Woods, Ellie & Aria Sellon, Devon Liddle, Gavin & Finn Erion, and Hudson Grimm. She was preceded in death by her parents, Giselle and Antonia; her Grandmother, Ermina; her husband, James Woods Sr. and grandson, Adam Liddle.