Laura Ann Wood

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Obituary

Laura Wood, a deeply faithful, generous-hearted, and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend,

passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026, at the age of 75.  Known for her boundless kindness and giving spirit, Laura lived a life

completely dedicated to loving others and putting their needs above her own.  Laura was born in Alameda, California, and grew up

in Hayward, where she graduated from Logan High School in 1969. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she began working as an

operator for the Pacific Bell Telephone Company shortly after graduation.  In the summer of 1969, Laura met Cliff Wood at the

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. They were married on September 28, 1974, and shared a season of life together, welcoming two

daughters before divorcing in 1980.  Through her intelligence and steady dedication, she spent the majority of her 32-year career

with the telephone company serving as an engineering administrator. As a hardworking single mother, Laura balanced her career

with an unwavering commitment to providing a loving, supportive home for her daughters.  Laura’s family was her absolute pride

and joy. She was a profoundly loving, sacrificing, and kind-hearted mother to her daughters, Katie Orr and Kelly Reyes. She

treasured her role as a grandmother to Anthony Chandler, Jade Reyes, Wes, Camren, and Callen Orr, and as agreat-grandmother to

Alfie. She is also survived by her four loving sisters, Janet Davis, Lisa Rayce, Joanna Paul, and Diana Viray, who remember her as a

wonderful, supportive, loving sister; brother-in-laws Jim Davis and Steven Pahl, as well as many cousins, beloved nieces,

nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Laura was preceded in death by her parents, George and Betty Vugin, Aunt Karen &

Uncle Jim Dulle, Cliff Wood, brother-in-laws Michael Rayce and Robert Viray. To her family, she was a constant blessing—always

ready for shared lunches or gathering around the table for a game of Uno or Skipbo.  A true woman of faith, Laura’s life was defined

by her quiet devotion to God. She was an avid notetaker, constantly writing down reflections while listening to Bible radio, Christian

television, and news programs. Over the years, she was an active member of Fremont Community Church during her time as a

Fremont resident, and for the past 21 years, she made her home in the Pleasanton/Livermore area, and over the last few years

attended Ridgeview Hope Church.  Laura was an inherently forgiving person who famously never had an unkind word to say about

anyone. She was known affectionately for her thorough, "long answers" to simple yes-or-no questions, and she would echo her

sisters’ loving “Just the facts.” Her generous heart extended far into the community. She consistently planted "seeds" of God's love,

choosing organizations close to her heart to support, including Focus on the Family, Navigators, City Team, and Shepherd’s Gate.

Her legacy of giving shone brightly in her tradition of purchasing Christian children's magazine subscriptions for her daughters,

nieces, and nephews—a sweet gesture she proudly continued for her grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews. Laura truly

lived out the words of Philippians 2:3:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Her patience, endurance, and hope reflected 1 Corinthians 13:4-7—

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it

keeps no record of being wronged. . .”

Laura embodied how God defines love in this passage. She never gave up, never lost faith, and loved without condition.

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Laura Wood

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