The wake for retired Deacon Richard E. Woods will be from noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 29 at H.M. Martin Funeral Home, 3856 E. 131st St., Cleveland. The family requested that vespers be omitted.
Bishop Richard Malesic will be the main celebrant at the 11 a.m. Dec. 30 funeral Mass for Deacon Woods in St. Ann Church at Communion of Saints Parish, 2175 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights. Father Phil Racco will be the homilist.
Deacon Woods, 73, died Dec. 25. Survivors include his wife Gloria (Weaver), children and grandchildren.
Bishop Anthony Pilla ordained Deacon Woods to the permanent diaconate for service to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland on May 20, 1989 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
Deacon Woods was assigned to serve St. Louis Parish, Cleveland Heights after his ordination. On Jan. 18, 2010, he was assigned to serve Communion of Saints Parish in Cleveland Heights, where he served until his retirement on Sept. 1, 2013.
Those who knew him said Deacon Woods was fervent in his support of the diaconate formation program and was dedicated to his prayer and time to be present on Saturdays to support those in formation. They also said his kind and gentle disposition and desire to serve the Lord touched many.
Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland.