Nellie Solange Strong Hertz's Obituary
Nellie Solange Strong Hertz Obituary
Long-time resident of Leesburg, author, and noted Catholic spiritualist Nellie Solange Strong Hertz died peacefully in Leesburg, VA Saturday, October 3 2015. She was 95. Preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gustav Crane, and one daughter, Lydia Logan Hertz, Nellie is survived by four of her five children: Crane Hertz of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Gustav Hertz of Atlanta, Georgia, Stephen Hertz of Leesburg, VA, and Christina (Tina) Hertz of Ashburn, VA, their respective spouses, as well as 19 grandchildren, and 50 great-grandchildren.
Nellie Solange Strong was born in Washington D.C., January 1, 1920 the only child to Andree Laurans Strong and John Logan Strong.
Mrs. Hertz graduated from Western High School in Washington D.C. at age 14 as the class valedictorian. Mrs. Hertz was the first female recipient of the school’s scholarship to the (at that time) all-male Georgetown University. She instead attended American University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Classical Language on June 5 1939. She was 19 years old.
Mrs. Hertz married classmate Gustav Crane Hertz and they bought Hertz’ current residence, a 1790-era stone farmhouse in Leesburg; the house resides on a street that was later named in the family’s honor (Hertz Road). In the 50s, Gus's government job took the family to Manila, Philippines and later to Saigon, Vietnam. Tragedy struck the family while in Saigon, when Gus was captured by the Viet Cong and Nellie was forced to return to the United States with their five children and without Gus. The story captured national attention when it appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1967. Gustav died as a high-profile civilian Prisoner of War in Saigon, where he had been working for USAID. Mrs. Hertz buried her husband in 2002, after a long search for his remains by the State Department.
Mrs. Hertz was a prolific writer, supporting her five children in part with the publication of almost two dozen books on Catholicism and spiritualism. Mrs. Hertz was also featured in several local publications, including the Loudoun Times-Mirror, the Washington Evening Star, Antiques magazine and others; she became an established writer for numerous well-known Catholic periodicals, such as America, Immaculata, The Remnant and others.
Details of Mrs. Hertz’ funeral events and other information can be found at http:// http://solange.strikingly.com/. Visitation and rosary will be at Loudoun Chapel Funeral home on Thursday, October 7th from 6-8 PM. A Requiem Mass will be offered at St John the Apostle Catholic Church on Friday, October 8th at 10 AM. The burial will follow immediately after the funeral mass. There will be a solemn procession to the cemetery adjacent to the church.
In lieu of flowers the family requests friends please offer a mass for the repose of Nellie's soul or make a donation to
Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity
780 Ridge Road Lackawanna NY 14218
www.homesofcharity.org
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