Janet Aileen Virginia Duchac Woods passed away May 30, 2013.
She was born in Antigo, Wis. on April 27, 1922 to Jessica Rose Riley Duchac and Frank Duchac. Her family moved to Atmore when Frank was sent by the Wittenberg Cedar Co. to buy timber knocked down during the hurricane of 1926.
She was a graduate nurse of St. Margaret’s in Montgomery and a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps during WWII.
She met her husband, Frederick C. Woods, while working at Thayer General Hospital in Nashville. Aileen was director of nurses at Thomas Hospital in the 1960s.
Aileen and Fred married June 1, 1946. Aileen attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn) and studied interior design. They lived in Paris and traveled throughout Europe for six months in 1951, after which they moved to Baldwin County.
She was active in Christ the King Parish and was president of the PTA, Ladies Sodality, Burse Club and Parish Council. In 1988, in recognition of her many years of service to the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II awarded her the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice or “Cross of Honour,” the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the papacy.
She was a member of the Wisteria Garden Club and the Eastern Shore Flower Lovers, Bird Watchers, Literary and Benevolent Marching Society.
She was president of the Eastern Shore Art Association, director of the Eastern Shore Art Academy and a founder of Bay Rivers Art Guild. Aileen was an artist, painter, potter, weaver, quilter and basket maker.
She studied at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee and San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. She studied with well-known artists Henry Casselli, Tim Weber, Sylvia Hyman, Herman Bischoff, James Pinto, Jennifer Davenport and others. Many remain close friends today.
She was a supporter of the Mobile SPCA.
Aileen was preceded in death by her husband.
She is survived by her daughters, Jahala Aileen Woods, Janine Adrienne Woods, Janelle Zietz, Stephanie Yang Markey and Jo Ann Allegri Yarborough; and sons, Erik Conrad Woods and Edward James Woods; her sister, Genevieve Maria “Skippy” Duchac Peterson; her favorite niece, Mary “Clancy” Peterson O’Donnell; her westie, Winston; cousins, nieces, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and eight granddogs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mobile SPCA (MobileSPCA.org, 620 Zeigler Circle W., Mobile, AL 36608).
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2013, at 10 a.m., at Christ the King Church in Daphne. Visitation will immediately follow.
Arrangements by Cason Funeral Service, Foley.
