Mary Ellen Verdu

Mary Ellen Verdu passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2026, surrounded by family.

She was a loving wife and mother, thoughtful gift giver, and aspiring beekeeper, but more than anything else, she was a passionate and relentless advocate for children and families in need.

Mary Ellen grew up in Cranberry Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa., as the oldest of five children born to Rafael (Ralph) Jose Verdu and Audrey Evaline Farren. After graduating with a BA in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, she moved to Virginia in 1977, with her husband Richard (Rich) Wokutch. They lived in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Roanoke County, Richmond, and Salem during their time in Virginia. Soon after moving, she would enroll at Virginia Commonwealth University seeking a master's degree in social work. Upon graduation from VCU, she accepted a position with the Roanoke Valley's Council of Community Services, working as the Director of the Information and Referral Center. In that role she would help people in Southwest Virginia connect with social service agencies and assist them in receiving much needed support. Subsequently, she was appointed Director of the Montgomery County Department of Social Services (i.e., the welfare department) overseeing the administration of a wide range of services throughout the county. She would look back fondly on this as one of the most impactful positions she held, allowing her to improve access and outcomes, increasing both the quantity and quality of services available to underserved families.

With time, Mary Ellen's work with the Montgomery County Social Service Agency received attention and acclaim, leading to her appointment as Director of the Virginia Council on Child Day Care and Early Childhood Programs for Governor Wilder's administration in Richmond. Through that role she was able to accomplish a great deal to promote childcare and early childhood programs. However, this important agency, along with her position, were eliminated when Governor Allen was elected. Mary Ellen would often state that this move was indicative of Allen's backwards beliefs - that childcare programs were unnecessary and harmful, and that women should stay home and take care of their children rather than work. Ever the feminist, this viewpoint was antithetical to the reality Mary Ellen herself lived, demonstrating that working mothers not only benefitted women and society, but also created great outcomes for the children they raised. In 1996, the Roanoke Times published her sharp rebuke to the dismantling of the Council and the resulting harm Allen did to working families and their young children: https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1996/rt9607/960714/07160006.htm .

Mary Ellen's passion and concern for families and children are evident in this editorial, but equally noteworthy is that time has vindicated her views as more parents than ever vie for a tight supply of high-quality and affordable childcare options.

Transitioning away from administrative work, Mary Ellen would find a fulfilling second career as an instructor teaching several generations of students in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech. She brought practical, real-world experience to her role and organized thousands of field study placements, ensuring that every graduate left with meaningful community-based experiences that prepared them for a career in social services. Through her leadership, HDFS became known for its exemplary field study program, a legacy that remains a point of great pride for the department.

In every role Mary Ellen took on, both professionally and through her numerous volunteer efforts, including her decades-long work with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), she was a staunch advocate for children and families. She was no less of a champion for her own family - instilling in her children a strong desire to find work with an overriding social purpose and to be, more than anything else, empathetic, thoughtful, and kind. This legacy is seen in her grandchildren who already understand the importance of community, and who will remember her as their loving and doting grandmother who always picked the perfect, developmentally appropriate gift on birthdays and Mary Ellen's favorite holiday, Christmas. She left the world a better place than she found it, and she will forever be missed.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Rich Wokutch; her parents, Ralph and Audrey Verdu; her son, Andreas Wokutch and his wife, Seema Sheth; her daughter, Caitlin Verdu and her husband, Paul Judge; and six perfect grandchildren, Safia Sheth, Rumi Wokutch, Akeem Wokutch, Asha Sheth, Cassandra Verdu, and Arthur Judge. Mary Ellen is also survived by four siblings, Ralph Verdu, James Verdu, Suzanne Verdu, and Eric Verdu; and by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service for Mary Ellen will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at St. Mary's Catholic Church (https://stmarysblacksburg.org/) in Blacksburg, Va. Please RSVP by October 2nd to Caitlin Verdu (cewverdu@gmail.com) for yourself and any significant others who will be attending with you. The service will also be live streamed on St. Mary's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysblacksburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to either of the following: The Children's Trust which supports CASA. Donations can be made here: https://www.roact.org/takeaction; or The Mary Ellen Verdu Fund at Virginia Tech. This fund will be used to support an annual student award for excellence in the human services field study course that Mary Ellen taught for many years in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at VT. Donations can be made here: http://www.give.vt.edu. Both of these organizations accept checks, credit cards and online donations. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.