Constance “Coni” de Bruyn Kops

Constance “Coni” Verdi de Bruyn Kops, 84, passed away peacefully at home on August 28, 2026, surrounded by love and her family.

Coni was born April 22, 1942, in Rolla, Missouri, to Columbus A. Verdi and Hazel M. Shelton. She attended Waukegan High School in Waukegan, Illinois, before going on to Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. There, she earned a Psychology Degree. In June 1972, she married Dr. Julian de Bruyn Kops, III, in Boonton, New Jersey, beginning a marriage that would span 54 years.

Throughout her life, Coni was defined by her devotion to children and community. She served as Director of the Day Care/Extended Day Program at Holy Rosary Catholic School, then as a Transportation Security Officer, and later as a special education teacher and paraprofessional, bringing patience and heart to every student she worked with. A committed Girl Scout leader for over 35 years, she guided generations of girls as a troop leader and service unit leader, shaping her community in ways that will long be remembered. In a final act of generosity, Coni chose to donate her body to the Cadaver Lab at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, continuing her lifelong commitment to teaching and to others even after her passing.

Coni is survived by her husband of 54 years, Dr. Julian de Bruyn Kops, III; her daughters, Samantha de Bruyn Kops, Kacianne Brown (de Bruyn Kops), and Andrea de Bruyn Kops; her brother, Arthur A. Verdi; and her three grandchildren, Julian, Ethan, and Avery, who brought her immense joy.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Sandpiper Restaurant, 750 Lindsay Blvd, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402.

Coni is under the care of Wilks Funeral Homes in Chubbuck, Idaho.