Elly Vajda Seng, 84, passed away on March 16, 2018 in Memphis, TN, of congestive heart failure. She was born in Milwaukee, WI in 1934, and graduated college with a journalism degree from Marquette University. Her degree was put to good use helping her mother Claire Vajda publish an immigrant-oriented newspaper in Milwaukee called the Melting Pot. From her mother, she learned how lucky she was to be an American citizen and to give of herself to the community. She continued to work on the paper—after moving to Florida with her young family—until her mother passed away in 1968. While in Florida, Elly also volunteered for a number of organizations in her Cape Canaveral community, spearheading the establishment of a new elementary school, community library, the expansion of the local community college to include vocational training, and a mental health clinic.
Later, Elly moved back to Milwaukee with her children and then transferred to Washington, DC. In Washington, she worked on press releases and communications for various federal agencies (including INS, EPA, and the Government Printing Office), and also worked on Capitol Hill as a congressional aide. She received the DAR Medal of Honor in 1992, which gave her even more pleasure knowing that her mother had received the same Medal many years earlier for her own work promoting citizenship. Elly spoke five languages, which often helped her at work. She relished her time in Washington and only consented to leave once her health faltered.
Elly is preceded in death by her parents Claire Goldman Vajda and Dr. Adalbert Bela Vajda, both originally from Hungary. She is also preceded by her young son Gregory, and brother Emil Vajda of Marquette, MI. Elly is survived by her daughters Claire Seng-Niemoeller (John Niemoeller) of Germantown, TN; and Melanie Luchs of Irving, TX. Elly is also survived by five grandchildren Benjamin Niemoeller of Roanoke, VA; Sean Luchs (Kim Burgoon-Luchs) of League City, TX; Samantha Niemoeller of Los Angeles, CA; Jennifer Luchs (Carlos Nunez, fiance) of Sturbridge, MA; and Alexander Luchs (Anita Von Arb, fiancee) of Nashville, TN; plus one great-grandchild Ethan Luchs of League City, TX.
The family would like to thank Elly’s caregivers at Bright Glade for their warm and generous care during her extended illness, and also Crossroads Hospice for providing extra help and guidance later. Elly continually amazed both her family and Bright Glade staff with her natural ability to get people to talk about themselves so she always knew what was going on. She was truly a people person.
Elly will have a local service on April 6th at 11 am at Catholic Church of the Incarnation (St. Therese of Lisieux chapel) in Collierville, TN, and later a private burial in Milwaukee. Visitation at 10 am will precede the service, with a reception following the service. The family requests any memorials be sent to the Disabled American Veterans or another military veterans group, Elly’s favorite charities.
