Thief River Falls – Grace “Gracie” Woods, 16, of Thief River Falls, passed away on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in the arms of her sister, surrounded by her loving family and friends after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, with Father Rick Lambert presiding.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. prayer service on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Lincoln High School Auditorium in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral on Thursday at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls.
Grace Noelle Woods was born on Dec. 23, 1998, in Thief River Falls, the daughter of Todd and DeAnna (Hermreck) Woods. She was baptized on Feb. 14, 1999, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls. Grace attended St. Bernard’s Catholic School, Franklin Middle School, and was about to begin her junior year at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls.
Grace was lovingly known as Gracie by many of her family and friends. She bore a magnetic spirit that caused all those who knew her to embrace their relationship with her and all those who met her to fall in love with her. Many told Grace that she was an old soul; she possessed wisdom far beyond her years.
Her perspective on life was transformed through her battle with cancer. Grace enjoyed sharing the wisdom and perspective she found on life with her friends, family, and the public. She took numerous opportunities to share her views and experiences openly over the last couple of years, from groups as informal as her choir classroom, to larger events like school assemblies and large charity events, such as Outdoor Adventure Foundation banquets.
Growing up, Grace and her family spent a great deal of time at their lake cabin at Springsteel Resort on Lake of the Woods just outside Warroad. During her time there she developed a second family whom she cherished, her lake family. She also obtained a passion for water and many related hobbies which she enjoyed on the frozen lake, on the boat, and at the beach.
Grace loved to fish for walleye during both the summer and winter; she loved snowmobiling in her Arctic Cat gear, much of which was passed down to her from her sisters. More recently, she also acquired a love for the ocean; twice this summer, she visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina at her uncle Jess’s camper and referred to the serenity she discovered there as “her medication.”
Grace also enjoyed the opportunity to hunt with friends, with family, and with the Outdoor Adventure Foundation (OAF). She grew up hunting deer, but her love for new adventures compelled her to jump on chances to expand this hobby to birds and elk posed by her friends and also by OAF.
Those touched by Grace’s spirit all seemed to agree on one thing; she was the strongest person they had ever met. In all her modesty, Grace would attribute much of this strength to her friends.
She had many groups of close friends who kept her going, and she adored each of them for their uniqueness; they all separately gave her something special and altogether helped make her life and her heart full. Grace’s heart was also filled by her affection for and from her beloved yellow lab, Max. His presence in her life was huge, both literally and figuratively; he nearly outweighed her, but also gently consoled and cared for her in times of need.
Though many of the more recent happenings and experiences in her life tended to be considerably large, first and foremost, Grace strived to be an ordinary kid, yet along the way she wound up showing the world how to lead an extraordinary life while they’re able. She left us with so many wise words, some of which include, “You shouldn’t have to find out you’re dying to realize how precious life is.”
Grace is survived by her loving parents, Todd and DeAnna Woods of Thief River Falls; sisters, Paige Woods of Minneapolis and Taylor Woods of Thief River Falls; grandparents, Warren and Mary Ann Hermreck of Thief River Falls, Patrick and Donna Woods of Moorhead, and Karen Jegtvig of Carrington, N.D.; her loving aunts, uncles, and cousins; numerous friends; and her beloved canine companions, Max, Ginger, Lucy, Cash, and Fifo.
Grace was preceded in death by her grandfather, Jerome Jegtvig, and special friend, Ian Alves.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.
A00003B2015SP09