Obituary of Vasilika Arthur Verdi
Hadley - Vasilika Arthur Verdi, 99, passed away on December 27, 2023, surrounded by her loving family at Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. She was born on January 15, 1924 in Natick, MA, the daughter of Sotir and Eleanora (Ndini) Arthur. Vasilika attended Natick Schools and graduated in the class of 1942 on Flag Day. After high school, Vasie worked in a dress factory and then made bomb parachutes when the factory was converted to support the World War II effort. She met her beloved late husband Arthur in the Albanian Orthodox Church choir and they later married on July 21, 1946. They were married for 71 years. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for 62 years where she sang in the choir. In her quiet and reserved manner, Vasie was the rock of the family; from her early years as the oldest daughter of 12 children caring for her siblings, to lovingly raising her own family as a full-time mother and homemaker, to caring for her husband in his later years. During the Great 1953 Worcester Tornado, she protected her children by placing them on shelves in the linen closet when she was unable to get to the basement. She was an avid baker and cook. Her chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies and blond brownies were favorites of family and neighborhood children. Her Albanian lakror made from scratch was legendary. Her other interests included reading, sewing, gardening, watching the Red Sox, Patriots and game shows, and she was always listening to the radio. She thoroughly enjoyed attracting and watching her backyard birds. Vasie and Arthur lived in Worcester, Northampton, and ultimately settled in the house they built in Hadley in 1964, where she lived the rest of her life. Vasie will be deeply missed by her children: Dennis Verdi and his wife Victoria of Holyoke, Philip Verdi of Florence, Elaine Prinzivalli and her husband John of Hadley, and Matthew Verdi and his wife Roxanne of Northampton. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren: Diane Lukomski and her husband John, John Prinzivalli and his wife Merritt, Anthony Prinzivalli and his wife Stephanie; her dearly loved great grandchildren: JP, Will and Gabriella Prinzivalli, Luke and Theo Prinzivalli. She will also be missed by her brother Thomas Arthur, her sister Loretta Gentilotti and husband James, her sisters-in-law: Shpresa Lano, Sylvia L'Abbe, Dorothy Fotos, and brother-in-law, Stephan Verdi; cousins and many nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Arthur, she was predeceased by their beloved 2 year-old daughter Marianne and their infant son. Vasie was also predeceased by 5 brothers and 4 sisters. The family would like to sincerely thank Therese, Tatyana, Maricruz, Rose, Paola, Sue, several other caregivers and the entire office staff at Home Health Solutions in Holyoke for their loving and compassionate care during her last years. Special gratitude to Dr. Henry Simkin for many years of warm and dedicated care. Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 9:00am - 11:00am at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, followed by the Funeral Service at 11:30am at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 410 Main St. in Holyoke. Burial will follow at Plainville Cemetery in Hadley. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church or Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant St. in Amherst, MA.
