Emily M. Wood

Emily Mendillo Wood born August 2, 1937 passed away on July 2, 2022, following an auto accident in Milford, Connecticut. Emily, affectionately known as BIRD to all that knew her, was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Dr. John C. and Emily W. Mendillo. She attended and graduated from Foote School and Prospect Hill Day School in New Haven and Simmons College in Boston in 1959. She later earned a Master’s degree in Social Work and became a registered nurse.

She is survived by her son Col. (Retired) Rawson (Susan) Wood of San Antonio, Texas and her daughter Leila (Chuck) Stuhr of Ridgefield, Connecticut; and six grandchildren, Monica (Cody) Limbach, Jared, Galen and Ryan Wood and Charlie and Reggie Stuhr.

She is also survived by two brothers, Stephen W. (Lisa) Mendillo of Los Angeles,

California and James R. (Victoria) Mendillo of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and nieces and nephews.

Emily was predeceased by her sister Nancy M. Bruno late of Milford, Connecticut and John (Betsy) Mendillo Jr. late of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

After Emily’s career in social work and nursing ended with retirement, she engaged in numerous hobbies which included traveling to all parts of the world, gardening, bridge, reading, movie-going, enjoying grandchildren, entertaining and wintering in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Appropriately, she also was a benefactor to the bird sanctuary at Milford Point where memorials can be made to the Coastal Center of the Connecticut Audubon Society. A celebration of her life will be held August 20, 2022, in Laurel Beach, where she lived almost her entire life.