Obituary
In celebration of Edith Allais Woodall Lee, we honor her significance in this life. She now joins our dearly departed loved ones in heaven, especially her eldest daughter, Elizabeth Allais Lee Smith ‘Beth’, and ‘Bahmoo’, Edith’s beloved grandmother. Edith was always a free spirit and passionate soul, who loved all of God’s creation. As a woman of God, who studied Thomas Merton and the spirituality of Saint Francis, she actively shared her wonderful Protestant + Catholic + Unity interfaith Christ Consciousness journey with all of her children, grandchildren, and her many friends. At the center of Edith’s heart was her immense capacity to love and forgive. She continues in spirit to be a joy and inspirational challenge to others to grow a deeper daily spiritual life. Edith will live forever in hundreds of hearts and minds as an inspiration and affectionate friend to all, especially her assisted living facility communities.
Edith was the founder of the first Montessori School in the Southeast, “Ashdun Hall” in Atlanta, Georgia in 1961, inspired by her sister-in-law, Helen Hilda Lee Cartledge. Her passions were Master Gardening, music, reading, RVing, and traveling, with Portugal being her favorite. Edith also enjoyed having lived in North Georgia, Maryland, and Florida, choosing the Villages, Florida for her end of life transition. She passed peacefully in the care of hospice, surrounded by loving friends and a few closest family, that included her brother David and her Villages’ daughter.
We welcome all to celebrate her life at a formal Catholic Funeral at the 8:30 am Mass of the Resurrection at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, Lady Lake, FL 32159 on Monday, May 13, 2024. The celebration of life will then continue from 10:00 a.m. to Noon with an open casket visitation for family and friends to say goodbye in The Baldwin Brothers Chapel, 1008 Bichara Blvd, The Villages, FL 32159. We welcome all to watch the live stream of the mass of the Resurrection on St Timothy’s Lady Lake FL YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. In lieu of flowers, please, Volunteer with your local hospice.
Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com.
Service
Lady Lake, FL
Visitation
1008 Bichara Blvd., The Villages, FL
Mom enjoyed her many delightful loving friends in the Villages Florida
10visits with her peaceful, mutual unconditional loved cousin Elizabeth Allais Post Greene
Free indeed...heaven gave us an earth angel powerful mighty and dearly beloved, Edith Allais Woodall and all of heaven is celebrating her Birthday in freedom, light, peace and in eternal Love, above beyond human understanding.
Mom's friends and neighbors in the villages brought her a lifelong renewal of fun, joyful care, companionship, individuality and added life to her years 2005-2018, 2021 2022-2024. Loved by all her many many villages friends, both new friends and old friends, at church, restaurants, outings, new prayer partners, dining room or pet pals in her apartments, in villages facilities and old dearest neighbors alike.
Endless outings to enjoy the villages beauty within 8 minutes of her villages home and later assisted living snf facilities. Ever an honor and joy to be right by her side through every Florida surgery and medical appointments. You made me promise you mom and I kept our promise to live, love and care for you holding your hand through pre op prep, appointments, during procedures and holding your hand and praying and physically managing your 9 specialists, primary doctors and 12 months of hospice care plus private duty daily caregivers so that no need was left unknown. You ran your life your way, and demande all respect your free spirit. I adore you now in Spirit truly free beyond space and time, after loving every 24 hours of caring beside you. in your own choices as you gave permission for me to video your opinions the last 2 years to honor your wishes not my own. We finished the race, within your healthcare peaceful requirements, respecting your individual desires spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially within the elder options caregiving training I completed certification in 2022 for dementia caregiver best methods, guidelines, practices and protocols. I was faithful to the promise to care for you, no matter how challenging, any hour night and day, and both heart breaking and heart warming your journey was one of deepest love. Mom you are the strongest woman I've ever known! I thank you for showing me how and making me promise to be strong for you in return for all your physical and spiritual care. You are free indeed... well done good and faithful servant! Your unique private individual wishes were honored in your friendliest hometown in peace and beauty in the Villages FL. Thank you for loving everyone in your unique, tough and tender healthier for you al-anon ways: you asked and received your needs. Your last 2 years were focusee fully for you on your own terms, Edith Allais Woodall, preparing for Life after life. You are forever loved by everyone. Thank you to an amazing strong, loving, free spirit, now and always!
One of Mom's hundreds of friends in the villages - 99% who met her, loved her sincerity, mature spirutuality, fun loving affectionate nature. She is an inspiration forever in her indomitable spirit loving her freedom, many friendships and her independence.
In 2005 Edith chose to move to the Villages FL inspired by an ad in her many RVing magazines because she found for her it lived up to it's mission statement to be "Florida's friendliest hometown,"
Edith Allais Woodall Lee with David and Carol Woodall and Helen Marie
Outing for lunch with Rick… she loved her “Moe’s wraps”! And sit in park
A few of mom’s 14 grandkids!
Enjoying visit with my sister Beth, mom and Cole
Mom with life long friend at Tate. Mom had so many great memories at Tate. One of the places mom taught us the love of nature, water etc
Mom was not the best co-pilot! But we had some good road trips
At one of 14 grandkids wedding
Happy Mother’s Day!
Mom is getting ready for Spring Break road trip!
Mom made some big kids!
Miss you mom and Momoo… love, Howard and Cole
visit with some grandkids
Quality time together
She gave birth to, raised and tolerated eight - yes eight - kids … I was #5.
She was a very free-spirited woman who loved her days of RV caravans, the outdoors, teaching us camping, shooting (also showed us at young age why not to play with her Dilenger pistol), and so many other things like diving off a spring board or platform. (Many people may not know but she was an accomplished diver in her early years). She had a hair “bandana” for every occasion that she loved to wear.
She could drive a bluebird bus with an airstream trailer in tow behind with 8 kids inside and vacation bikes strapped onto the bus with the best of them …. And shock truckers when we encouraged her to pass them on the highways … shocked that they saw her driving the bus and not a man. She loved her special horn to blow as she passed them and they would blow theirs with a big smile on their face.
She loved her many dogs over the years from large St Bernard’s and Rottweilers to her small rescue dogs.
She was an avid horse person for years and taught us to ride and care for them. She encouraged us in whatever sport we chose and to be active and healthy.
She ‘hated’ managing her finances (couldn’t or wouldn’t balance a checkbook no matter how often we tried) so she was glad to have atleast one nerdy CPA for a son (until I had to remind her of budgeting herself )…
She loved the Lord and would read us the “Bible story” books at young age and take us to church and yet allow us to choose our walk with Christ and not force it on us and willing to pray with us.
She loved her grandchildren’s visits, phone calls and FaceTime visits as they grew and moved all over the world literally. She loved to hear as they were growing into young adults themselves.
Last but not least one of the greatest gifts she gave me that I still have … is my wife Sharon (and thus the blessing of our two fantastic “children”). It was my Mom that “orchestrated” what we call “Momoo’s arranged marriage” of us. She met Sharon was house mate with Gina in college and said “you have to meet my son Rick”. . And then arranged it to happen even though I lived in Fl. Shortly thereafter we were married and always proud she introduced us!
I could go on and on … those that knew her I welcome you to post any of your fond memories here as well.
Peaceful prayerful Family visits