"Hadley - Arthur Lazar Verdi, 94, passed away on June 20, 2017 at Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. He was born on December 26, 1922 in Boboshtice, Albania, the son of Lazar and Marianthi (Vreto) Verdi and at the age of 6 immigrated with his parents to the United States. In 1943 he enlisted in the US Army serving his country during WWII as a Staff Sergeant in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He met his beloved wife Vasilika in the Albanian Orthodox Church choir and they later married on July 21, 1946. Arthur worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service for 38 years and was the State Administrative Officer in Massachusetts before retiring in 1980. Arthur loved music, had a beautiful tenor voice and composed and arranged various music pieces. For many years he was a member of the Worcester Music Festival Chorus which performed with the Philadelphia and Detroit Symphony Orchestras. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and served as the choir director for 46 years. His family and friends quickly relied on Arthur and his ability to master anything encompassing fine woodworking, mechanical and electronic repairs, reupholstering furniture, gardening, auto and lawnmower repair and any project with which his family challenged him. Arthur was a warm and loving man who was deeply devoted to his family. He had a genuine love of life and a witty sense of humor, always bringing joy to those who knew him. Arthur will be deeply missed by his devoted wife of 71 years, Vasilika (Arthur) Verdi; his four 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. He also leaves his sisters Shpresa Lano of Vernon, CT, Sylvia L'Abbe of Leicester, Dorothy Fotos of Shrewsbury, his brother Stephan Verdi of Elverson, PA; grandchildren, Diane Lukomski and her husband John, John Prinzivalli and his wife Merritt, Anthony Prinzivalli and his fiancée Stephanie Cipolla; great grandson, John James Prinzivalli; and many nieces and nephews. Arthur was predeceased by their beloved daughter, Marianne and their infant son. Funeral services for Arthur will be held on Monday, June 26th, 11am at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 410 Main Street, Holyoke. Please meet directly at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Plainville Cemetery in Hadley. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, June 25th from 3pm - 6pm with a Trisagion Service at 5:30 pm at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton Street (Rt.116) in South Hadley. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the following: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA or VNA of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA. "