Glorianna "Glory" Rae Verdugo Wood

On December 19, 2023, at 3:00 p.m., Heaven’s gates opened to welcome Glorianna Rae Verdugo Wood home.  Although her battle is over, she gleams in the Victory of her Just Reward.  Rest in Peace, Scleroderma Warrior.  Glory is reunited with her beloved family and friends.  Glory, you carried your heavy cross with dignity and strength, and will feast upon the table of the Lord (she also put in her favorite foods order to the family).  Born Glorianna Rae Verdugo on October 11, 1970, she was also known as “G” in the fitness arena.  Glory grew up in Phoenix most of her life.  As a child she lived in Mescalero, NM on the Apache and the Navajo Indian Reservations.  She was always active.  She loved hiking and the outdoors.  She hiked the Havasupai Falls Trail twice.  She loved Nature, the Ocean, and to travel.

After her sister, Giovanna Rena Verdugo was called Home on April 1, 2016, her motto was “Honor the Lost by Living.”  Born with an entrepreneurial Spirit like her Granddaddy, Deacon Bob Chavez, Glory’s determination was driven by her Passion; and she had MANY Passions.  She loved Life and loved what she did.  She Loved her Kids and Family.  She was a boisterous Basketball Mom when it came to projecting her opinions to the Referees.  She was a Loyal Friend, Relentless, and Resilient with the Tenacity of a Bull.  She loved Old School Music and had the Heart of a Fighter.

Glory was a Co-Founder of Scleroderma Angel; and volunteered with organizations such as Zuri’s Circle My Beautiful Circle, LatinaStrong Foundation, the Parson’s Foundation, and McDowell Clinic.  Glory was Self-Employed as a Personal Trainer, Life Coach, and a Managing Market Partner at MONAT.  She was a Trainer at Amenzone South Scottsdale, and a Manager at Anytime Fitness.  The Amenzone Foundation was created to help against childhood obesity and build self-esteem.  “I am one of the toughest Latinas you will ever meet!”  Through Amenzone, Glory discovered her Passion for Health and Fitness and was inspired to help others on their Journey.  Glory was front and center, hands on, in the trenches with her students.  She never tired when it came to helping children achieve their fitness goals.  

After she became ill in December 2020, Glory dedicated much of her time and efforts to bring an awareness of educating others about Scleroderma.  In 2022 she was interviewed by the International Scleroderma Foundation from the UK to build awareness of the disease.  When it became clear that this horrible auto-immune disease would take her Life, she also made it her mission to educate others on how to gain quality care and assistance through Hospice of the Valley.  HOV also produced an internal podcast interview with Glory.  

Glory was the kind of person you looked for reasons to be around and share her natural joy for life. Glory is survived by her daughter Delicia Wood (Monica), son Damon Wood III, , mother Becky Castro (Fiancé Konstantine), brother Brian Verdugo, her precious dog Mamita, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and friends.  

The celebration of her life will be on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018.  The service can also be viewed through this live stream link: https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyMurphyFH/live/

Christmas was Glory’s favorite time of year.  If you feel so moved, please wear your favorite Christmas attire.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations go to one of her chosen charities: 

Scleroderma Research Foundation:  https://srfcure.org/support-us/ways-to-give/ 
Scleroderma Foundation Rocky Mountain Chapter:  https://Schleroderma.org/RockyMountainChapter 
Hospice of the Valley:  https://www.hov.org/donate.donate-now/