Ana Wood

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Ana Rosa Wood, on May 8, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was 76 years old.

Born in Havana, Cuba on November 13, 1949, Ana came to the United States in 1961 during Castro's regime at 11 years old, accompanied by her grandmother and 6- year- old sister. She lived with her maternal aunt and uncle in Schenectady, NY until her parents and grandfather could leave Cuba to reunite with the family. The loss of all possessions was a sacrifice her parents made in exchange for freedom and a future for their lives. Raised by parents of both Chinese and Spanish ethnicity, Ana was very proud of her diversity and cultural background. She was a graduate of St. Columbus High School, Schenectady. In 1971, Ana earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Ana married Steven Wood on September 4, 1971, in Schenectady, N.Y. She went on to travel extensively throughout Europe, and raise a family with two sons, Greg Wood and Ryan Wood.

During Steve’s military duty assignments, they lived in Hopkinsville, KY (Fort Campbell), Fulda, Germany (US Army Airfield), Monterey, CA (Fort Ord) and Killeen, TX (Fort Hood). After Steve’s retirement, they settled in Las Vegas and later divorced.

Ana’s professional career spanned over 30 years in community development, customer service and education. She managed community development programs at United Way of Southern Nevada, such as the Earn it Keep it Save it Collaborative, which was composed of 84 coalition partners, both business and non-profit organizations, focusing on financial stability for employees and families. Through her work at United Way, she supported families so their children had the best opportunities for academic success as well as provided resources of financial literacy classes to children, employees and parents to become self-sufficient and provide stability in the home.

Ana started her career in teaching. She taught English and adult basic education courses such as skills qualification training to military personnel in Fulda, Germany; worked with children with disabilities, and taught Spanish at Killeen High School in Texas. She taught (English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes to adults at College of Southern Nevada CSN). Prior to United Way, she was a customer service trainer at Nevada Power.

Ana is best known for her leadership on the boards of the American Society for Training and Development, BEST Coalition, March of Dimes, UNR Cooperative Extension Advisory Council, Vietnamese American Community of Las Vegas Advisory Board, Latin Chamber of Commerce and primarily the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, where she served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2015.

She chaired the Chinese New Year Gala and Community Achievement Awards, 2016 to 2020 and 2022 to 2025. As Chairwoman of the Government Affairs Committee and a naturalized citizen, she took her responsibilities seriously with her civic involvement in citizenship, Get Out the Vote, and advocated on behalf of its members, businesses and community. With the integral values of respect, honesty and integrity deeply instilled by her parents, Ana worked hand in hand with community leaders to improve the Southern Nevada community.

A Celebration of Her Life and Service was held in Las Vegas on June 6, 2026

Ana is survived by her two sons, Greg Wood (Erin), of Pacifica, Calif. and Ryan Wood (Victoria), of Las Vegas, Nev.; her mother, Ana Wong, from Schenectady, N.Y., sister, Marilyn Wong-Wittmer (Robert) of Melbourne, Fla. and brother, Jose Wong (Jessica) from Bedford, N.H.; her four grandchildren, Taylor Wood, Pacifica; Ella Wood, Charlotte Wood and Lucas Wood, Las Vegas. She is also survived by two dear aunts and uncle, Juana Jung and Angelica Rochford, of Schenectady, and Rufino Ray Fong, from Lighthouse Point, FL. She is also survived by many dear and loved cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephew throughout the country.

Ana was predeceased by her father, Jose Ming Wong, of Canton, Havana and Schenectady; maternal grandparents, Ramon Fong and Emma Martinez Fong; and paternal grandparents, Ming Wong and Moi Choy Wong.

Family and friends are invited to attend

A Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on

Saturday, September 19, 2026

at 10:00 am

St. Paul the Apostle Church

2777 Albany Street

Schenectady, New York

Interment immediately following at

Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery

Niskayuna, New York

Ana was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, nana, aunt, niece, cousin and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her and will always be remembered for the love and joy that she brought to many.

In lieu of flowers, Ana’s family requests that you may honor Ana’s life with a donation to the Asian Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, Las Vegas at https://lvacc.org