Dorothy Deist Wood, 97, died on Sept. 9, 2025 after a brief illness. Born to Dr. S.C. Henn and Helen Roe Henn on March 2, 1928, she grew up on the South Side of Chicago with her siblings, Helen Martha Henn and Robert Roe Henn, and attended South Shore High School and the University of Illinois, where she served as president of the Chi Omega sorority. After earning her teaching degree in 1949, she started a program for the deaf and hard of hearing at Longfellow School in Oak Park. In 1950, she married Raymond Deist, a fellow U of I alum. Together, they had four sons: Bob, John, Tom, and Bill. She took great pride in all four of her sons becoming Eagle Scouts. Following Ray’s death, she married James Wood. After Jim’s death, she married Fred Good. A fun fact she enjoyed was that all of her husbands served as presidents of the River Forest Tennis Club.
An active member of the OPRF High School community, she participated fully in local school activities, and she served for many years on the board of the Women’s Auxiliary of West Suburban Hospital. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Oak Park and later First Presbyterian Church of River Forest. She loved reading, playing bridge, and tennis and was happiest when she was surrounded by family and friends. Her cheerful disposition and genuine affection for people enabled her to make friends wherever she went.
Dorothy is survived by her four sons, Bob (Lainie); John (Karen); Tom; and Bill (Leslie McLeod); along with six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at 1 p.m. (rather than on a previously indicated date) at First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, 7551 Quick Ave., River Forest, IL 60305.
A reception will be held in the Social Hall at the church immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations to First Presbyterian Church of River Forest are appreciated.
