Mary Ellen Wood, 78, of Peru, went to be with the Lord at 6:36 PM, Saturday, June 21, 2025, at her residence. She was born in Chicago on March 6, 1947, the daughter of Robert and Rosemary Murphy Gillespie. Mary married William Wood in Chicago on January 15, 1965 and he preceded her in death on September 10, 2018. Her greatest joys in life were her family, and her Roman Catholic Faith. Mary was a member of the St. Charles Catholic Church and the Altar and Rosary Society. She was the founder of Birthright of Peru and active in the operation of organization for many years. She was a CNA at Dukes Memorial Hospital for more than twenty years. Her most treasured role was serving her family as a devoted wife to her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and she will be dearly missed by all who loved her. Mary is survived by her daughters Amanda Anderson of Peru, Maureen Hartleroad of Kokomo, and Rosemary (Russ) Wood Beattie of Michigan; grandchildren Madeline Anderson, Kyla Waller, Brenna Waller, and Josi (John) Mangun; great-grandchildren Lakelynn Rose, Walyon Michael, John Williams, and expected great-grandson Kobe Williams; siblings Dan (Marlene) Gillespie of Chicago, Jeanne (Jim) Aderman of Chicago, Dianne (Tom) Batka of Chicago, and brother-in-law Andy Ryder. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, her sister Kathleen Ryder, and a son-in-law Steve Hartleroad and a brother-in-law Bob Wood. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Mary Wood will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the St. Charles Catholic Church, 58 W. 5th St. Peru, with Fr. Gustavo Lopez officiating. Burial will be in the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery. Family and friends will gather from 5:00-7:00 PM, Tuesday, June 24th, at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 W. Main St. Peru. There will be a prayer service at 7:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the funeral home to assist the family with final expenses.