Sylvia Joy Wood, age 85, a former resident of Santa Barbara, California,  died peacefully on Monday, September 25, 2017, at Lexington Health Care Center in Lombard, Illinois.  She was born April 22, 1932 in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Lewis and Kathryn Higinbotham.

After graduating from school in Buenos Aires, she married Josiah Wood and moved to Washington D.C. where her first son was born. Several months after his birth they relocated to southern California, where they had three more sons. For many years she lived in Santa Barbara where she worked as an office manager in the medical field.

Sylvia's Christian faith, her love for God, and her community at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois transformed her life. She enjoyed travel, with several trips to Switzerland, and multiple trips to Mexico, where she served as interpreter for the "Flying Doctors." She was also a voracious reader with a special interest in British history. Perhaps more than anything else, she enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her sons, William "Jay" Wood (wife Janice) of Wheaton, Christopher Wood of Santa Barbara, and Michael Wood of Santa Barbara, six grandchildren, Adam (Caris) Wood, Diana (Matthew) Soerens, Gillian (Keith) Conrad, and Samuel Wood, Austin Wood, and Amelia Wood, and seven great-grandchildren: Zipporah Soerens, Augustine Wood, Zephaniah Soerens, Audrey Conrad, Catherine Wood, Zoe Soerens, Amelia Conrad, and niece, Valerie and nephews, Darren and Kevin.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Josiah, brother, William, sister Kathryn, and one son, Kenneth.

A memorial service will be held at Church of the Resurrection, Wheaton, IL at 4 PM on Friday, September 29, 2017.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.