Above / Lifelong Naperville resident Doris Wood was known for purchasing tickets to the Judd-A-Thon so her entire family could participate together. (PN File Photo, 2016)
Doris Knoch Wood, age 95, a lifelong resident of Naperville, IL, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2025. She was born November 24, 1930, in Naperville to Irene and Win Knoch.
Doris is survived by her seven loving children, Gay, Beth, Jean, Alice, Larry, George and
Bridget; her thirteen grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren Wood, in 1987; as well as her sisters and lifelong friends, Marjorie Knoch, Jean Wehrli and Joanne Strong.
Click any photo to enlarge…
Note: The black & white photo is Doris Wood with son Larry in 1963 when the very first push-button phone went live in Naperville, Illinois, thanks to the local Bell Labs connection.
Doris was a proud graduate of SS. Peter & Paul Grade School and Naperville High School. She went on to earn her degree from Iowa State Teacher’s College, now known as the University of Northern Iowa, beginning a lifelong commitment to education and service. Doris devoted many years to teaching at Illinois Benedictine College and the College of DuPage, where she shared her knowledge, dedication, and love of learning with countless students.
A devout Catholic, Doris was a lifelong and faithful member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Her faith was the foundation of her life, guiding her actions, values and relationships. Family was always her greatest priority, and she loved each and every one of them deeply, offering unwavering support, kindness and encouragement throughout her life.
Doris was known for her passion for reading and the many friendships she made by participating in local book clubs. Longtime residents will recall she was instrumental in passing the referendum to build the new Nichols Library that opened in 1986 to meet the demands of the growing community.
And nearly 31 years later, she added her kind, softspoken voice to the “Save Old Nichols” Campaign in 2017, a community initiative that designated the Old Nichols Library building on Washington Street as a local landmark.
Folks who walk around Nichols Library from Jefferson to Webster and to Jackson will note that Doris secured most of the artwork that surrounds the downtown library. She also donated the Reading Children sculpture outside the Children’s Library, later added to the Century Walk tour.
Her family recalls she donated the St. Francis statue at the Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery.
Doris also was a hospice volunteer for 40 years.
Plus, every summer for 20 years, she supported Loaves and Fishes along with Hossein Jamali during a backyard fundraiser featuring live performances of the arts. Alice Wood noted that her mother would never ask someone to contribute if she didn’t also support the cause—”something I’m sure she learned from her parents.”
In her later years, Doris was honored to be part of the Super Agers program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She was hopeful that her participation would contribute to meaningful research and positively impact the lives of others as they entered and experienced their golden years, reflecting her lifelong desire to serve and make a difference.
Alice Wood added, “You’ll love this, but Mom was determined to die as a noteworthy person so her obituary would be free. She was definitely a Depression era person.”
Final note: Celebration of Life planned Jan. 5, 2026
For individuals who would like to leave a lasting tribute to the life of Doris Knoch Wood, memorial donations may be directed to Loaves and Fishes Community Services.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at 11AM on Mon., Jan. 5, 2026, at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 36 N. Ellsworth Street, Naperville.
The message for the every day: Make it a Doris Day!
Personal Note / Let us extend heartfelt condolences to the Wood family, happy to have known Doris Wood for many years and to have discovered in 2019 that we shared the same birthday when she had begun planning her 90th birthday party for November 24, 2020. We’ll always remember her gracious attitude and Knoch Knoch jokes! —Stephanie Penick
