Gwendolyn Hood

Gwendolyn was born the 4th child of nine children on June 18, 1950 to Charles N. and Clara B. Hood in Gary, IN.

After Gwen graduated from Froebel High School, Gary, IN, class of 1968, she went on to work for Natural Gas Pipeline and Company of Chicago, IL which is now known as Occidental Petroleum of Lombard, Il. where she continued working until she retired.  Afterwards, Gwen’s passion to help others directed her to St. Franciscan (Formerly St. Anthony’s) as a C.N.A.  She graced many with her “Full of Life Personality”!  In 2002, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which required her to retire early from giving her 120% care.

In 1969, Gwen birth her son, Anthony Waters whom she called Tone-Tone. Her son was her friend, caretaker, and her most beloved until he was tragically taken in 2018 by a drunken driver.  For the last four years, Gwen continued to move forward because she was very proud.

Gwen enjoyed traveling, especially with her three friends, (Gloria Smith, Sylva Harris, and Denise Black) all from Illinois.  Their choice of destination was Jamaica, whereas their travels were over 20 trips to Jamaica with the last one being in 2013 due to the M.S. becoming difficult for Gwen to travel.  Their many travels earned them the name of, “Golden Girls” given by one of the natives in Jamaica that they always encountered whenever they visited there.  In addition to traveling, Gwen enjoyed her family, gossiping on the phone with the “Golden Girls”, keeping up with world news, and shopping, and watching mysteries/ID channel.

In addition to being a proud woman, she was strong-willed and a people person.  No matter where she went, she would strike up a conversation with strangers to the point that you would think they already knew each other.  She made sure that everyone she was connected to was taken care of one way or another.  Gwen’s family orientation was the glue that her siblings gravitated towards her. She was such a mother figure to her siblings, that she called all of her siblings born after her, affectionately, her kids. 

Gwendolyn went home to be with the Lord on April 6, 2022. Gwendolyn was preceded by her son, Anthony Waters, her parents, three brothers, Charles N. (Hood) Hameed, Edward W. Hood, and Kevin Hood.  She was also preceded by a special nephew, Tommie J. Allison II.

Services will be held at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 123 Helen St., Michigan City, IN. on Tuesday April 19, 2022.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. with services beginning at 11:00 A.M. with Dr. Stanley Mason presiding. Burial to follow at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. 

She is survived by one sister, La Tanya (Harland, whom she affectionately called “Mister”) Stewart, four brothers, Ronald A. Hood, Indianapolis, IN Byron (Barbara) Hood, Greenville, MS, Wayne C. (Linda) Hood, Gary, IN, Dennis L. (Donna) Hood, and a special great nephew, DaShawn Holmes whom she called, (Ooompa), She also leaves to cherish, the three Golden Girls, close friend and niece, Samara Stewart, Pomona CA., sister friends, Gwendolyn Waters and Kelley Waters both of Portage, IN, and Sandra Elaine George, Michigan City, IN, Gwendolyn also leaves two special daughters, Sylva Chambers and Shekiyah Tyree Of Illinois, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

                                                                                 ***THIS SERVICE WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED***

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