Ambrose "Ham" Raymond LaVerdi

Ambrose “Ham” Raymond LaVerdi, 85, of Acme, died Thursday, December 11, 2025 in Zelienople, PA. He was born May 21, 1940, in Brownsville, PA, the son of the late Marion “Mudda” and Madalon (John) LaVerdi. He was a graduate of Brownsville High School, class of 1958. Ham was a proud United States Marine, serving from 1958 through 1961. His career as a Tool & Die Maker spanned 45 years working at Tosco Tool Specialty in Los Angeles, CA, Robertshaw and Volkswagen in New Stanton, PA and CK Composites in Mt. Pleasant, PA. He was a self-taught carpenter, woodworker, plumber, electrician, stone mason, and brick layer. He, in large part, built his own home in the Bear Rocks community that included a huge, two-story stone fireplace, each stone selected along the banks of the Youghiogheny and chiseled by hand. He greatly enjoyed woodworking, having his own workshop above his garage. You would often hear him singing Jerry Vale songs while creating treasures such as cradles, rocking horses, and a toy box for his grandchildren, as well as a beautiful quilt rack for his wife Linda. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, attending his grandson’s baseball games and his granddaughters’ tennis matches, piano recitals, and musicals. He eagerly anticipated his annual summer trip to Nags Head, NC, with Linda. Ham’s razor-sharp wit and countless buckets of handpicked blackberries and homegrown tomatoes will be greatly missed. Ham is survived by his daughters, Lisa E. Kowalik and her husband, John, of New Alexandria, and Gina R. Geronime and her husband, Jim, of Cranberry Township; three grandchildren, Laura Ellen Kowalik, John Ambrose Kowalik, and Lucy Ra Geronime. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Linda (Swallop); his sisters, Cicely and her husband Dominic Forcina, Sr., Roberta “Bertie” and her husband Clinton Guthrie; his nephew, Dominic Forcina, Jr.; and two great-nephews, Dominic Forcina, III and Noah Cooper.

A Memorial is being held in Ham’s honor on Saturday, December 27th
Visitation at 1:00 PM, Memorial Service at 2:00 PM
Lutheran Senior Life, Passavant Community
Seaman Memorial Chapel – located inside the Abundant Life Center
105 Burgess Drive, Zelienople, PA

Ham’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Passavant for the constant love and kindness bestowed upon Ham during his time in their care for Alzheimer's Disease.

In lieu of flowers and memorial trees, the family asks that donations be made to the Benevolent Care Fund at Lutheran Senior Life, Passavant Community in Ham’s memory.