Rita N. Wood

Born in Fall River the daughter of the late Thomas and Adele (Faris) Nasser, she was a lifelong resident of the city and a 1951 graduate of BMC Durfee High School.

Mrs. Wood was employed in the Allied Health Field as a Certified Medical Assistant, with clinical and administrative specialties. She was the first person in Southeast Massachusetts to achieve this distinction. She founded the Greater Fall River Chapter of Medical Assistance and promoted the continuation of education in others in this field to aim for the AAMA/AMA credentials. She was employed in this field for over 40 years and was known throughout the city as a patient advocate.

She was a lifetime communicant of Holy Name Church where she was a member of its’ Women’s Guild, a member of the Union-Truesdale Hospital Board of Trustees and later became a member of the Southcoast Hospital Board. She then served as a member of the Visiting Nursing Association Board. She was a member of Hospice Outreach Board of Directors prior to becoming affiliated with the Visiting Nurses Association/Southcoast Hospital-Charlton Site, BCC Medical Program Advisory Board, Diman Regional Vocational Advisory Health Care Board, Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts Board of Trustees, was appointed to the Traffic Commission by former Mayor Edward Lambert and was the recipient of the Hometown Hero Award in 2001. Mrs. Wood cherished the time spent with her family, friends and grandchildren.

Mrs. Wood is survived by her three sons: Dr. Warren M. Wood II and his wife Nancy of Portsmouth, RI, Wayne M. Wood and his wife Nancy of Fall River, MA and Walter M. Wood and his wife Joanne of Westport, MA; ten grandchildren: Jennifer Malhotra, Jenna Teixeira and Kyle, Lesly, Chad, Jonathan, Jeremy, Adam, Katie and Morgan Wood; a great-grandson: Emerson Teixeira; a brother: Francis E. Nasser Sr. of Fall River; a brother in-law: Roger Wood and his wife Barbara of Fort Collins, CO and several nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Thomas R. Nasser Jr. and Mary A. Place.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, December 27, 2013 at 8AM from the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE AT CHERRY PLACE 178 Winter St., Fall River followed by her funeral mass at 9AM in Holy Name Church 709 Hanover St., Fall River. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 4 to 8PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts, Inc., 227 Union Street Suite 703, New Bedford, MA 02740 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Burial will take place in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River. For directions or to send a tribute please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com