Mona Wood

Mona Lee Wood, 75, of Bradenton, Fl. a Native Syracusan and longtime resident, Mona Lee Palmer was born on October 2, 1946 to Mildred & Curtis J Palmer.

On April 9^th, 2022 Mona went to be with the Lord in Sarasota, FL and she will be missed by many.

Mona Wood is survived by her daughter, Marnie Woodson, her granddaughter Emma and her great granddaughter and her dog ET.

Mona Wood went to Valley Academy High School and is known as the spitfire who inherited and successfuly ran Red’s Brake Service for 50 years.  Red’s was gas station/ garage that her father “Red” built and ran until he passed in 1969.   Mona was 23 years old and had a 1 year old daughter at the time of her fathers passing and was left the entire estate and business to run and manage as she saw fit. Quite the challenge lay in front of her and she had no idea of what was to come.  

Through the years, Mona grew to be a fierce, strong and ruthless business woman in that male dominated world.  Mona dedicated her entire life to “Red’s” literally in every single facet.  Mona’s ability to pivot the direction of the business over the course of the 50 years, is a testament to her business savviness.  Time and again she continued to make Red’s successful and profitable, all the while seemingly to handle it all fearlessly. Mona grew the business to a company strong with 25 employees and eventually transformed Red’s Brake into Red’s Equipment Warehouse in a business development strategy.       

Mona was a admired, resilient, confident, tenacious, driven, determined woman, who if she cared about you, would give you anything you needed.  Mona friended a wide network of customers and acquaintances, many of whom became lifelong friends whom she treated like her real family.  If she did not care about you, let me tell you, you knew that too, as Mona was anything but shy and told you exactly what she thought.

Mona was known for throwing terrific parties including fantastic clambakes for the employees and customers to decked out Christmas Parties.  When she moved to the A-frame in Tully in the early 70’s, it was the perfect venue for hosting such events that friends told stories about for years.

Visitation will be held on Friday  May 6^th, 2022 from  11am till 2pm at the Burns-Garfield Funeral home at 3175 E. Genesee St, Syracuse

In lieu of flowers Mona would hope that you would do an unexpected act of kindness for someone.

Mona will be laid to rest with her mother and father in White Chapel Cemetery with a private gathering. Mona loved Sanibel Island and her remaining ashes will be spread there at a later date by her daughter.

Marnie invites you her friends, coworkers to offer condolences and share memories of Mona  Marniewoodson@gmail.com  

Raise a glass and wish farewell to the dauntless Mona Wood.