Celebrated centenarian: Former WAC member, grandmother of War Memorial employee turns 100

In the 1940s, Jennie Woods DeAngelis was chosen to represent North Dakota as part of the Women’s Army Corps, or WAC.

July 11, Woods DeAngelis celebrated her 100th birthday. Now living in Ormond Beach, Florida, she resided in Michigan for many decades after World War II.

"We asked her what the secret is to being 100 years old and she said ‘David, I haven’t worried about anything for 40 years.’ She’s sharp as a tack and having a conversation with her is amazing,” her grandson, David DeAngelis, said. DeAngelis is the director of facilities and campus operations at The War Memorial.

During the war, she was an original member of the WAC, with one woman representing from each state in the U.S. This came prior to Hawaii and Alaska being added as states.

Born in Saskatchewan Canada, Woods DeAngelis had U.S. citizenship, growing up in North Dakota.

Her brigade landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France in the summer of 1944, a few weeks after Allied forces arrived on June 6.

Next May, Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge is expected to be officially and formally dedicated on the grounds of The War Memorial Association in Grosse Pointe Farms. The 50-foot-wide and 25-foot-tall sculpture is the official world-wide twin of the original Les Braves in Normandy, France — located in the Vierville-sur-Mer on Omaha Beach at the junction of dog red and easy green sectors.

DeAngelis said his grandmother’s unit was not supposed to be in the active battlefield, but where they landed there was no gunfire, so they all made it to shore safely.

In sharing stories from the war, Woods DeAngelis said woman were treated poorly.

“When the ships all landed at Omaha, the men barely got their boots wet, but the women were dropped off much further back and had to wade through the water a lot further,” DeAngelis recalls his grandmother sharing.

Also during the war, Woods DeAngelis met Rocco DeAngelis in Germany and they exchanged letters. The two married in the 1940s, with Rocco DeAngelis passing away in 1997.

One noted accolade she received is the French Legion of Honor Medal. The medal is France’s highest honor and is presented to those who have achieved remarkable deeds for France, and in Woods DeAngelis’ case, assisting in the liberation of France.

Discharged from the WAC in September 1945 with the rank of technician fourth grade, DeAngelis said his grandfather was always bitter that his wife had more medals than him, and a higher rank.

“She was one of the youngest women in the war and we believe that she is the last remaining woman from that original troop,” DeAngelis said.

Woods DeAngelis worked as a schoolteacher in Roseville, where she lived and raised six children in a small house near 12 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway. The home remained in the family until the mid 2000s. In 1981, DeAngelis’ grandparents purchased the trailer she currently lives in and used it as a winter residency for several years.

Describing his grandfather as “very Italian,” DeAngelis said family gathering were always about food, in response to his memories of visiting them growing up.

“She made sure everything happened and that everyone was happy,” he noted. “They always had snacks in their house and bowls of candy.”

Woods DeAngelis has 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Alex Szwarc Manager of communications and advancement 313.881.7514 aszwarc@warmemorial.org

This photo of Jennie Woods DeAngelis was taken during World War II. She was a member of the Women’s Army Corps and landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France in the summer of 1944.

Jennie Woods DeAngelis turned 100 on July 11. The Florida resident is seen here with her grandson David DeAngelis, director of facilities and campus operations at The War Memorial.