Meet Jeanette Woods A Life of Grace, Grit, and Good Humor at 93

If you’ve ever attended a Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital event or a local fundraiser, chances are you’ve seen her, elegant, radiant, and dancing as if the years simply don’t apply to her. That was certainly the impression she made at the Hospital’s 50-year anniversary celebration, where she arrived impeccably coordinated and lit up the dance floor all night long. And again, at Wine Under the Roof, there she was, polished, poised, and effortlessly stylish. But behind that dazzling presence is a remarkable life shaped by hardship, perseverance, service, and an unwavering belief in joy.
Jeanette Woods, now 93, was born and raised in Houston, Texas. An only child, she lost her mother at just 11 years old, during the tumultuous years of 1939–1945. Those were difficult times for families across the country, World War II, rationing, bread lines, bank closures, and neighborhoods filled with hungry people. Jeanette remembers neighbors knocking on doors, hoping for a meal. Her mother, generous even with little to spare, often cooked large pots of red beans and rice, stretching what they had to help as many as possible. If there were eggs, there might even be cornbread.
Her father, a city bus driver, a vital job at a time when few households owned cars, kept transportation running for workers producing military supplies. But after her mother passed, he was around less and eventually entrusted Jeanette’s care to relatives. Those early years taught her resilience, compassion, and a deep understanding of both the challenges and beauty of life.
Jeanette carried those lessons forward. Determined to build a future of her own design, she attended night classes at the University of Houston and later Massey Business College, where she trained in office management and secretarial work. It was the beginning of a long and successful career supporting top executives during Houston’s oil boom and beyond.
Her professional life was matched by her extraordinary level of community service. Jeanette served on the YMCA Camping Board, became President of Executive Women International, an elite, highly respected organization connecting leaders across the corporate world, and devoted countless hours to the Girl Scouts, PTA, the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, The Children’s Assessment Center, and Partners, a group supporting University of Texas nursing students. She also contributed her energy to the American Heart Association Guild of America and was an active supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of America.
Today, Jeanette lives in a warm, welcoming 55-plus community in Valencia, where she remains as engaged and spirited as ever. She loves attending local events. She is the proud mother of two wonderful daughters, Taylor, a retired teacher and corporate trainer who lives in Westridge with her husband Michael; and Susan, a retired police officer of 25 years who lives in San Diego with her wife Molly. Jeanette also beams when speaking of her granddaughter, who works in marketing and sales for the Angels baseball team in Anaheim.
At 93, Jeanette says age is “just a number.” Her secret? Stay positive, laugh often, especially at yourself, and don’t underestimate the confidence boost of a little Botox and hair color. Life, she says, is precious. “Enjoy every moment… keep looking forward and never look back.”
And if her presence on any dance floor is any indication, she is living those words beautifully.

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