Janel Ruth Broussard Wood's Obituary
Janel Ruth Broussard Wood of Dallas died Jan. 2, 2024 in a Katy, Texas hospital, where she was being treated for bacterial pneumonia.
Janel, born April 24, 1951, in Port Arthur, Texas, grew up in the Memorial section of Houston. She attended Memorial High School, where she made lifelong friends. Janel attended SMU, and she remained a loyal Mustang all her days. She pledged Zeta Tau Alpha sorority as a freshman and made close, enduring friendships. Janel graduated from SMU in December 1972 and began her teaching career at Ursuline Academy of Dallas. She subsequently taught history and English in Dallas, Katy and Plano ISD, where she was voted Teacher of the Year. From 2002-2011 Janel was a national sales consultant at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co. She left that position to care for her husband, Tony Wood, after he was diagnosed with ALS.
For more than 9 years Janel battled head and neck cancer in her jaw, which was diagnosed while she cared for her gravely ill husband. Although there was no evidence of cancer at the time of her death, radiation treatments caused severe side effects that left her body frail and weak. In spite of constant pain and brutal physical difficulties Janel was determined to enjoy life. She traveled, spent time with her many close friends, doted on her golden retriever, Miller, shopped for antiques to decorate her house and took up gardening.
Janel was an active member of Greenland Hills United Methodist Church, the Swiss Avenue Historic District (where she lived for 37 years) and Friends of Aldredge House.
Family was mightily important to Janel. She kept track of her aunts, uncles and all 34 of her Broussard first cousins and loved to share stories of her Cajun grandparents.
Janel’s parents, Ivah Ruth “Bootsie” and Dr. Clifford Broussard, preceded her in death. She is survived by sister Janine Broussard Ford of Katy, brother Jim Broussard (Karen) of Columbus, niece Ivah Broussard of Katy, nephew Winston Broussard of Beaumont, great-nephew AJ Broussard of Katy and stepsons Jason Wood (Melanie Clemmer) and Chris Wood of Dallas.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Jan. 13 at Greenland Hills United Methodist Church, 5835 Penrose Ave., Dallas, followed by a reception in the church’s fellowship hall and burial at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas. Suggested memorials include Greenland Hills United Methodist Church and Friends of Aldredge House.
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