Eileen C. Woods

Eileen C. Woods, age 94 of Hot Springs Village, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2018.

Born in Chicago on December 28, 1923, Eileen was the second of three daughters born to Fred and Bessie Schwark; June Fremont of St. Paul, MN being the elder daughter and Beverly Abbott of Hot Springs Village, AR the younger daughter.

Eileen loved everything associated with the water from her youthful days training on Lake Michigan to her final days relaxing on Lake Cortez. The motto we associate with Eileen is “Swimming Through Life”.

She was married to the late William E. Woods (who never learned to swim) for 60 years and together they raised four children, Nancy J. (John) Froning of Hot Springs Village, AR; William M. Woods (John Fahy) of West Palm Beach, FL; Karen E. (Richard) Reichley of St. Louis, MO; and Donald T. (Jane) Woods of Franklin, TN.

Over the years Eileen loved to teach both children and adults the joys of swimming and healthy exercise including her thirteen grandchildren and her nineteen and three-quarters great-grandchildren.

Eileen graduated from the University of Illinois in Physical Education but after teaching for one year at Iowa State University, her career was put on hold to raise her children as the family moved over the years from Illinois to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Minnesota before she and Bill retired to Hot Springs Village.

Always one to stay active, Eileen “retired” from playing tennis at age 85 only to take up kayaking on Lake Cortez; calling others on the Lake at 7AM to join her. In addition, she regularly kept fit by participating in exercise classes at Sacred Heart. She was thrilled when she entered her 90^th year as it was then that her regular golf games were “free”. It was exhausting trying to keep up with her!

She instilled in all of us a commitment to faith, family and friends. Reluctantly we surrender her from this life to eternal peace with our Lord. A Mass of The Resurrection will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM, with Fr. George Sanders as celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The Village Loan Closet 111 Calella Road Hot Springs Village, AR 71909 or Sacred Heart Catholic Church Memorial Fund 295 Balearic Road Hot Spring Village, AR 71909.

Arrangements have been entrusted to CedarVale – The Hot Springs Village Funeral Home. For online condolences please visit www.cedarvalefuneralhome.com.