JillWOODSadly passed away on 19th March 2026 at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, Jill aged 82 years. Beloved Wife of the late Joe, treasured Sister to the late Lynne, special Sister-in-Law, much-loved Aunt, caring Great Aunt and a dear friend to many. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Jill's funeral service is to take place on Monday 27th April 2026 at Stafford Crematorium at 10:30am. Anyone wishing to attend the service is asked to meet directly at the Crematorium, and to confirm with the funeral director. Colourful clothing is preferred to celebrate Jill's life, with shades of purple being her favourite.
Family flowers only by request; if you would like to make a donation in memory of Jill, these will be gratefully received by Luosko German Shepherd Rescue and Hector's Greyhound Rescue.
All enquiries to:
Isobel Whittaker Funeral Services
60 Pirehill Lane, Walton, Stone, ST15 0JN
Tel: 01785 336722
EULOGY
Born Jill Statham on 24 Oct 1943 to Hilda Pearl & Samuel Arthur Statham. She grew up at 99 Meaford Drive, Blurton with her younger sister Lynne. Family life was always busy with frequent visitors as Jill had many aunts and uncles and lots of similar-aged cousins – many of whom I’m sure will be here today.
Jill’s dad Arthur was a church usher and member of the male voice choir and so Central Hall Methodist church in Longton was a regular part of Jills life growing up.
As a teenager she regularly attended the church youth club in the community hall and it was here she was to meet the man she would later marry, Joseph ‘Joe’ Wood
After they were married, Jill & Joe moved away from The Potteries into a bungalow in Stone and then, just a few years later, into a newly built house in Bridge Crescent. This would become their home together for the next 60 plus years and where they would make lifelong friends with their neighbours.
In her younger days, Jill and Joe would have holidays in Wales making the 100+ mile journey on their beloved scooter staying at popular locations like Aberdovey & Clarach Bay. But then in later years travelling by car with their dogs and staying at ‘Ollies Farm’ in Machynlleth. Jill also loved Criccieth in Wales where she and Joe would spend many Christmases’ & also the Lake district where they would take long walks with their dogs.
Jill worked for more than 25 years as the office manager of Breeze’s SAAB Garage in Yarlet Bank, Sta ord. It was a job that she loved and excelled at – she discovered that telling people what to do really suited her! J But it was later, in retirement and her animal charity work that she really found her true calling.
Jill had many pet dogs and cats over the years. Dogs - Ricky & Ti in, Jodie and Kali and Cats – Kitten, Purdey, Kola, Pippin. But she was always working to help other animals whenever she could.
From the mid-1980’s onwards, and for more than 40 years, she worked with or otherwise helped to support almost all of the animal charities in-and-around Stone. And many of these charities continue to help improve the lives of Stone’s animals today
A very special mention must go to Hectors Greyhound Rescue and LUOSKO German Shepherd Dog Rescue, both of whom Jill continued to support, up to – and beyond – the end of her own life. Thank you to everyone for the kind donations already received to these charities which were always very close to Jill’s heart
After Joe’s sad passing in 2019 it would have been all-too-easy for Jill, who had never learned to drive, to give up her charity work. But instead, she doubled-down and began doing even more in the local community. If you ever wanted to visit her at home, it was best to make an appointment, because she was almost never there!
She became a long-term volunteer with Walton Community Centre where she also sat on the board as secretary for many years. And more recently has been closely associated with Tittensor Village Community Centre supporting their weekly auction and social mornings.
Always with an eye for a bargain, she was an enthusiastic bidder at these charity auctions – often leaving having purchased many more items than she had donated! In fact, sometimes, in all the excitement, she didn’t even know what item she was bidding on! But she was still determined to get it. As she always said – “it’s all for a good cause”!
But her charity purchases were not always that well planned. One day when meeting for lunch in Stone, Jill had to pop into the Cats Protection shop to pick up a pair of shoes - because she had come out of the house in such a hurry she was wearing an odd pair!
And her bargain hunting didn’t end in the High Street. She loved her regular trips to Penkridge market where she was fondly on first-name terms with all the traders – even if she did drive a hard bargain with them! And it was thanks to Penkridge markets that she usually had all her Christmas shopping finished by August!
Ready to lend a hand – especially where animals were concerned - and always with a smile, Jill was never shy about speaking her mind but was also known to have a mischievous sense of humour. We hope that you will all remember her that way.
During her life she improved the lives of hundreds of people - and perhaps thousands of animals - and so will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew her.
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