My heart is shattered.  On December 2, my best friend and companion of 53 years passed away. My dear Kathy is asleep, awaiting the Return of Jesus Christ.

Years ago, I was out of town at a memorial service, and Kathy texted me the following: “There is no service that could ever be long enough, or good enough, to adequately and properly pay tribute to any person’s life. There’s no obituary or eulogy that could ever come close.  But you’re all there today because of the impact their life had on each one of you.”

Those words are so true, and that’s why this post is really more of an announcement.  

Kathryn Lynne Verdicchio was born January 21, 1953 in Columbus, Ohio. Kathy leaves behind her husband Mike, her children Emery Pace Archer and Michael (Jacey) Verdicchio, her grandchildren Ava, Betsy, and Ezra, five siblings, and nieces and nephews.

She married Michael Anthony Verdicchio in May of 1971. During their 52 and a half years of marriage, Mike and Kathy lived in 12 different states. They have been living in Arizona for the second time, since 1992. They traveled abroad to Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and other places.

Kathy graduated from The Way College in 1981 with an associate’s degree in theology. Over the past 50 years, Kathy worked a number of part-time jobs, but her whole life was devoted to her family and to serving God’s people. Her love for God and His book, The Bible, was the most important thing to her in her life.

She was a most excellent cook, and many people over the years have enjoyed her food. She loved making food for people. She has been with mothers about to give birth, and with people in their final days, as well as everything in between.

Her favorite expression was, “God is good, always!” One of her favorite songs was, “Never Give Up.” She was a great example of trusting God in all situations, serving others with love, and practicing what she preached.

Her favorite verse was Ephesians 3:20 and 21: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held 3:00 pm, December 15, 2023 at Chapel of the Chimes Garden Venue 7924 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona, with Rev. Steve Armstrong officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, do what Kathy would do – take someone out to lunch or bless them in another way in honor of Kathy.

God’s Word, the Bible, clearly declares that when someone dies, they neither go anywhere, nor know anything, nor do anything, until the Return of Jesus Christ.  That’s why God refers to those born again ones who have died as “asleep.”  When Jesus Christ returns, all born again ones will meet Jesus Christ in the clouds, and so shall we ever be with the lord.

Farewell, my beloved Kathy.  I will see you again when we all see him in the clouds.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18:
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Corinthians 15:51-58:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.