Obituary of James Joseph Woods

Not one to do anything half way, James (Jim) Woods made sure he spent an even 60 years married to his
wife, Joan, when he passed away on September 24, 
2015. Business challenges and the occasional family crisis never fazed him, although his youngest son’s practical jokes ruffled his feathers a time or two. He loved his family, hated vegetables, and above all, led by example. Jim was born on November 3, 1926 to parents James and Cecilia Woods. He grew up in the Irish Horseshoe section of Jersey City, NJ, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps upon graduating from high school. Once discharged, he attended Saint Peter’s College and financed his Bachelor’s in Management 
by working nights at the Fulton Fish Market, and became the first in his family to graduate from college. 
Inspired by his grandfather, an avid reader with a third-grade education who told him that you can’t do anything without an education, Jim received his Master’s in Business Administration from New York 
University. From there, he tackled leadership positions at Lipton, Good Humor, Canada Dry, Camp 
Chemical, retiring from Holcim in Dundee Michigan as CFO and Executive Vice President. It was business that led him to his wife, Joan, whom he met at Lipton. Jim initially worried she was too young (he was 25 and she was 19 when they met), and although he was plagued by the flu on an early date, the relationship took off, and they were married in September of 1955. Their life together began in a tiny attic apartment in Weehawken, NJ, and took them to Elmwood Park, NJ and Toledo, OH as the 
family grew. Upon his retirement, Jim spent his days devouring books, spending time with his grandchildren, and golfing. Jim is survived by his loving wife, Joan; children Kerry (Theresa), Kathleen (Robert Kolodgy), Kevin (Mary), and Kenan (Angela); grandchildren Megan (Scott), Patrick (Melissa), Emily (Brad), Shannon, Kelly, Kaylee, Connor, Kathleen, Kendal, Jameson, and Jamie; and great grandchild, Cecilia. They will all miss him and his sense of humor, keen until the very end. And when his family and friends gather to remember Jim’s life, they will also be celebrating the importance of a good example. The family will receive guests at Santangelo Funeral Home, 635 McBride Ave., Woodland Park, NJ on Friday, October 2nd from 4-8PM. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Bonaventure Church, 174 Ramsey St., Paterson, NJ at 10:15am on Saturday, October 3rd. Memorial contributions may be made to the: Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org