SIMSBURY, CONN. — Elizabeth “Betsy” (Smith) Wood, 79, of Simsbury, Conn., passed away on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011 at her home after a courageous battle with melanoma.

She was the wife of Gardner F. Wood.

Betsy was born in Waterbury on Aug. 20, 1931, the daughter of the late Howard and Madalyn (McGuire) Smith. She was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy and Crosby High School and from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Class of 1954. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Betsy enjoyed playing tennis and bridge and her many summers at Crescent Lake in Raymond and winters in Vero Beach, Fla. She was blessed with many friends, old and new.

Besides her husband of 55 years, she is survived by two sons, Jeffrey and Richard; a daughter, Carolyn; eight grandchildren; and one sister, Virginia McLaughlin of Monrovia, Calif.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 940 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Conn. Family and friends are invited to return to the Wood residence for a luncheon following the Mass. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery, Naugatuck at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. The Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For further information or to send an e-mail condolence, go to www.aldersonfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make memorial contributions to The Raymond Village Library, P.O. Box 207, Raymond, ME 04071 or to McLean Hospice, c/o McLean Fund, 75 Great Pond Rd., Simsbury, CT 06070.