Barbara Laura Woods

Born in San Francisco, CA to the late Laura and Erwin Howard Haverstock, Barbara Laura Woods left this world peacefully on June 24, 2021, at the age of 91. 

Barbara is survived by four beloved children: Thomas J. Woods, of Cupertino, CA, Janet M. Sakhuja (Sanjay Sakhuja, spouse) of Alameda, Marilyn A. Woods, of Alameda, CA, and Lauraine C. Temple, of Brentwood, CA.  She leaves behind eleven adoring grandchildren:  Chloe Woods, Andrew Woods, Timothy Sakhuja, Olivia Sakhuja, Brian Sakhuja, Amanda Williams (Trevor Williams, spouse), Melody Woods, Emily Temple, Heather Temple, Autumn Temple, and Bradley Temple.  Barbara is survived by four precious great-grandsons:  Liam Lawless,  Tristan Foster, Theodore Williams, and Cruz Cerna.  She also leaves behind her loving kitty friend of 14 years, Ruby.  

She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Richard Woods, Jr., her sister, Dolores Goodwin, and her parents Laura and Erwin Haverstock.

Barbara received several promotions working at EBMUD, before starting a family.   She found her work interesting at the Defense Property Disposal Office (DPDO) in Alameda.  She worked at DPI in San Francisco, CA  as an accountant.  Most of all, Barbara enjoyed being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and spending happy times with her family.  Barbara was fortunate to have married the love of her life, Harold Woods, Jr., in 1952.  Her four children and her two granddaughters, Amanda Williams and Melody Woods, are blessed to have been raised by her. 

Barbara had a special gift for writing personalized birthday poems, to the delight of her grandchildren.  She was a generous soul who donated money regularly to help both animals and people in need.  Barbara was an avid reader, who excelled in writing poetry, painting, doing crossword puzzles, playing scrabble and word games online, gardening, knitting, crocheting, and doing embroidery.  She enjoyed watching shows on KQED and shopping in catalogues.  Barbara was an optimist who always saw the good in people and situations.  Her witty sense of humor often kept us laughing during good times and bad.  Barbara was the strong matriarch of the family, who could always be depended on for help and wise counsel, no matter what.  She was well-liked by everyone and was surrounded by her loving family throughout her life and until the end.  Barbara was comforted in death by her strong Catholic Faith in God and Heaven, where she looked forward to “seeing us again one day”.  Though Barbara’s loss will be grieved by many, she will be loved and remembered by all.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Catholic Rosary and Funeral Service, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at Greer Family Mortuary, 2694 Blanding Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501.  A bag lunch will be provided following the services.  

For those who wish to attend, the Burial will take place at 2:00 p.m., at Golden Gate National Cemetery, 1300 Sneath Lane,  San Bruno, CA. 94066.

Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to:  1) americanhumane.org (to help animals in need), or 2) naha-inc.org (Native American Heritage Foundation), or 3) www.stjude.org  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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