NORTH SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP
Posted: Wednesday, August 31, 2011
A short life is not a wasted life, especially when that life was lived by Amy Beth Sockaci.
Born February 27, 1979, she was nicknamed 'Mighty Amy' because she was the tiniest baby in the nursery but screamed the loudest. Amy passed from this life to more life on Monday, August 29, 2011, at the tender age of 32. Mighty Amy always lived life to the fullest.
Amy graduated with highest honors from Riverside High School in 1997, where she was coached in Cross Country and Track by her dad, setting school records in the 1 and 2 mile relays. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from Kent State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2001. For the last nine years, Amy was employed at Burt Hill in Butler, PA, achieving certification as a Registered Architect in 2009 in the midst of battling cancer.
Amy demonstrated time and again in her beautiful life that with God you can transform loss into gain. When first diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma four years ago, Amy repeatedly bounced back from radiation and chemotherapy with the most radiant smile, and she wore her unusually gorgeous bald head with pride. She was an inspiration to other patients, as well as hospital staff or others who encountered her, many of us realizing by her example how much we have to be thankful for and how much stronger we can be.
When relapse required a Donor Stem Cell transplant, she responded to its coming limitations by embarking on a six week adventure backpacking through Europe with her best friend Sherri and trying new things - such as paragliding over the Swiss Alps and hot air ballooning over the German countryside. This trip also achieved another item from her 'Life List', visiting the landmarks of her mother's childhood in Germany with her mother and sister Erika. Upon her return, her health had improved enough to cancel the scheduled procedure!
One year later, a Donor Stem Cell Transplant was required, and she again went on an adventure, realizing a dream of traveling to Alaska. She blogged about her experiences - sharing her faith, her hope and her joyful love of this life. At architectureamy.blogspot.com, she described herself in this way: 'I'm Amy a joyful, colorful, perennially hopeful lover-of-life! I believe that each day is truly a gift from God, and I strive to make each one count. Even when it doesn't quite go right, it is still an adventure to - hopefully - be enjoyed (or at the very least learned from).'
Amy recognized the Source of her vitality as the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in her. She could often be seen on Sunday mornings praising God down front at Victory Christian Center, her arms outstretched, her head lifted. She adored her church family and highly valued how much they supported her every step of the way. Her favorite activities included Victory Gardeners, the Happy Campers, and Friday Night River Services.
In mission trips to various places - Los Angeles, CA; Tijuana, Mexico; Coatepeque, El Salvador (twice); Post-Katrina Mississippi (twice); and Samaritan's Purse, NC - she applied the skills she learned from her father in building and construction. In her free time, Amy was always generous with her creativity, making gifts of her photography, sewing, and writing.
The last item on her life list is, 'To do something really memorable and special to impact the world and leave an amazing legacy.' Amy may not have realized that she did indeed accomplish this goal, touching everyone she encountered and leaving an amazing legacy - 'Every day is a Gift from God . . . every day is an adventure. Enjoy the journey!'
Amy is survived by her parents, John and Elizabeth Sockaci, of Ellwood City, PA; by her sister Erika Sockaci of Los Angeles, CA; her sister-in-law Jennifer Deaton, also of Los Angeles, CA; her grandfather Zachary Sockaci of Fombell, PA; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Erna and William Bartley and Helen Sockaci, and her cousin Stephen Sockaci.
Services will be held Wednesday, August 31, at Victory Christian Center, 3899 McCartney Road, Lowellville, OH 44436 (theresaplaceforyou.com). Calling Hours will be held at the church from 4 to 7 p.m., with a memorial service immediately following at 7 p.m.
Graveside services will be Thursday, September 1, at 11 a.m. at Lillyville Church of God cemetery, 408 Hickernell Road, Ellwood City, PA, 16117, with a luncheon to follow in the Lillyville Church fellowship hall.
Memorial contributions can be made in Amy's name to Family House Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA (www.familyhouse.org) and to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (http://www.lls.org/).
