Ammabelle Verdan Alcala

Amy was born on November 25, 1964 in Candelaria, Philippines where she spent her early childhood until her family immigrated to the United States (Seattle) in 1968. There, the Alcala clan quickly settled in Seattle’s Greenwood district where Amy and her three sisters (Aleli, Marie, and Marife) grew up in a cheerful hilltop home that remained in her family for nearly 50 years.

Amy completed all her education in the Seattle area, capping her studies with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. There, she majored in International Studies and met the love of her life- a course instructor named Oliver van den Berghe. After graduating, Amy worked as an administrative assistant in the travel, health care, and publishing industries, but above all, yearned to reunify with her college soulmate, who had relocated to Austin, Texas.

Amy’s dream was finally realized in 1999, when Oliver returned to the Pacific Northwest to buy a house and settle on the shores of the Columbia river in the township of Skamokawa, Washington. There, together with Oliver, Amy sank her roots, and dedicated her culinary and artistic talents to turning a forlorn old house into a cozy loving home. Upon settling in Skamokawa, Amy adored re-visiting the nearby parks and beaches where she had spent many blissful family vacations in earlier years, and Amy took special pleasure in wowing her Skamokawa neighbors and friends with Filipino culinary treats that always featured her “secret recipe” lumpias. Amy loved cooking, decorating, and gardening and sharing her life with those she loved.

Amy is preceded in death by her parents, Alberto and Erlinda Alcala, as well as her eldest sister, Aleli. With Amy’s passing, she is survived by two sisters (Marife Beeson and Marie Slottow), four nephews (Joey Beeson, Robert Beeson, Nate Slottow, and Sam Slottow), two nieces (Emma Beeson and Kenzie Slottow), and a panoramic extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins residing across the United States and the Philippines. Ultimately, although Amy spent the great majority of her life outside her Philippine homeland, Amy never forgot her Filipino ties or traditions, and will be dearly missed for the beautiful and loving spirit she exuded in her life and embodied in her name: “Ammabelle”.

Amy’s funeral service will be held at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, 11111 Aurora Ave. N, Seattle, Washington, on Monday, June,12, 2023. There will be a 9am viewing in the chapel and a 10am graveside blessing and eulogy. Immediately following, there will be an indoor Celebration of Life reception in remembrance of both Amy and her beloved sister Aleli Alcala, of Ann Arbor, MI, December 27, 1959 - May 3, 2023.