In Memoriam
North Wilson Wood
April 28, 1960 to March 6, 2018
North Wood
This website was created as a donation from North’s widow after he passed. He loved Mended Hearts Whittier so much that she wanted to honor him and his years of working with and being a patient at our hospital. We miss him and are very grateful for all that he did for us.
North’s Legacy
North came from a family of thoughtful free-thinkers. All had their own philosophies about life and nature and expressed them in music, poetry, dance, and books.
North was a brilliant violinist. Having won numerous awards and competitions he, at the age of twenty-three, won the concertmaster position (1st chair) of the YMF Debut Orchestra conducted by world-renowned conductor and motion Picture composer, Lalo Schifrin (Mission Impossible, Mannix, The Three Tenors). This honor placed him in the upper echelon of top college level instrumentalists in the western region. During his life, he won competitions, performed major violin concertos with symphony orchestras, performed and recorded with Grammy Award-winning artists, performed on the soundtracks to Academy Award-winning movies, performed on the soundtracks to over two hundred major motion pictures and hosted his own television program discussing his techniques regarding the nature of talent and achievement. As a keynote speaker, North also expressed his gratitude to large healthcare groups to inspire them to continue their work with passion.
But his true calling in life was counseling heart patients at Mended Hearts In Whittier, CA. He was incredibly moved by the people that he met – patients, other volunteer counselors and the medical staff involved with the program.
He leaves behind: his wife Patricia; his sister April; his brother-in-law Steve; his bird Tutti; his dog Gloria; and his true soul mate, Lucia the cat.
Excerpts From ‘How to See Beauty in Life: An Artistic Approach to Happier Living’ by North Wood
‘I have no fear of death at this point in my life. This lack of fear has nothing to do with the belief of a beautiful and euphoric afterlife (although I do believe that is possible).’
‘Although it may be disguised, the part of a person that you love will never die.’
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Anthony Leonard Acosta
11/6/665 – 3/20/2020
Anthony’s memory will live on as a special gift to our Mended Hearts family. When he chose to be our door greeter his smile brightened the day for every person who entered. The world was brighter because he was in it!
Anthony loved John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Anthony found joy in simplicity, true treasures in friendships and the love that surrounded his life.
Anthony loved to be part of Mended Hearts and his favorite flowers were baby blue Carnations.
Rest In Peace Anthony…You are missed by us all!
Mike Angel Candelaria
4/16/71 – 9/4/22
Mike was well known and loved at PIH Health for his outstanding work and his commitment to his patients. He always made time for their concerns and their questions.
Mike was very special to our Mended Hearts family from the first time he spoke to us about Pacemakers and Defibulators. He worked for Biotronik and wanted to share his knowledge, be a support to patients, and was always helping someone.
He joined our chapter in August of 2020 and in January 2021 joined our board, as Public Relations Coordinator. He spread our MH information at every hospital where he worked and with his patients giving them constant support and understanding.
His loss is profound and his memory is forever!
John “Mac” McFarland
11/10/1946 – 10/1/2019
Our Mended Hearts Chapter had to say goodbye to another good friend and volunteer. For those of you who hadn’t met Mac, all I can say is you wouldn’t forget his feisty laugh, his pat on your back and his way of finding people he could introduce you to!
Mac finished his MHI training in December 2018. Mac was eager to start visiting heart patients and he would introduce me to doctors and friends, telling them about Mended Hearts and saying I was his new boss. Everyone got a kick out of that! You see, Mac had served proudly on the Whittier Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Board of Directors (PIH Health) and he knew a lot of people!
Mac was full of life and wanted to share his story, so he got to work on his own visiting heart patients. He had a special way of relating to them and said he had a great day when he knew he made a positive impact on even one heart patients’ life!
Robert Villaneuva
3/29/50 – 11/22/18
We will always be “grateful and thankful” for our friend Robert who passed at Thanksgiving 2018, reminding us that life can be shorter than we expect and that it’s what we do with that life that makes a difference!
Robert is remembered by his cheerful smile and the kind words he had for everyone, as he walked from room to room visiting heart patients, families and staff.
Robert was also a Chaplain and with his faith foremost in his heart he brought comfort, peace, and compassion to those in need. He also brought laughter, love and was committed to being the best MH visitor he could be. His enthusiasm was as relentless as his passion for life! He is truly missed.