Kathleen Florence Verdi Masilla

Kathleen “Kathy” Florence Verdi Masilla passed away on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. She was born in New Orleans, LA on December 8, 1948. Kathy is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Thomas A. Masilla, Jr.; her nieces Amy Goodman, Donna Verdi Knight, Karen Verdi Pampas, Julie Verdi Camp, Mary Verdi Vicknair, Michel A. Verdi Brown; and her nephews Michael J. Verdi, and Dominic R. Verdi, Jr. Kathy was also godmother “Nanan” to Sara Goodman DeJong and Andrew Goodman. Preceded in death by her parents Florence Marie Huene Verdi and Michael Joseph Verdi, Sr.; her sisters Rita McKinney and Viola Sonnleitner; and brothers Dominic R. Verdi, Sr. and Michael J. Verdi, Jr.

Kathy will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was a graduate of LSUNO with a Bachelor of Education degree. Kathy enjoyed singing, in particular in the church choir at St. Clement of Rome. She spent most of her time raising and showing her many Pekingese dogs. Along with her husband, Kathy owned Santaverdi Kennels (named after her mother-in-Law Santa Masilla and Kathy’s maiden name), which over her career of 50 years provided for many hundreds of Pekingese. She was a member of the Pekingese Club of America and served on the board of that institution for a number of years. She wrote a column for the Orient Express, a national Pekingese magazine. Kathy raised many champion Pekingese and was a trusted and respected member of the national breed community.

Her family would like to extend special thanks to Patrick Goodman for his care of Kathy over the past two years, to Hiram Stewart for handling of her Pekingese babies, and to Maria Rodrigeuz, Sandra Rodrigeuz and Eva Hackler for daily devotion to caring for Kathy’s Pekingese. We would also like to acknowledge with gratitude her close friend Carol Hardin.

Services for Kathy will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at St. Clement of Rome Church located at 4317 Richland Ave. Metairie, LA 70002. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by Mass at 1:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held following the Mass at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemeteries located at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. A reception will be held at Lake Lawn Metaire Funeral Home Event Center.