• Solange Hertz has passed.

    Nellie Solange Hertz died Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 10:15 PM in Ashburn, VA. She was 95 years old.

  • Funeral Arrangements

    Funeral proceedings will take place in Leesburg, VA on Friday, October 9th, 2015.

    Visitation will be at Loudon Chapel Funeral Home on Thursday, October 8th from 6-8 PM. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 PM.

    Address:

    158 Catoctin Cir SE

    Leesburg, VA 20175

    Telephone: (703) 777-6000

    See it on Google Maps by clicking here.

     

    A Requiem Mass in the extraordinary form will be offered at St John the Apostle Catholic Church on Friday, October 9th at 10 AM.

    Address:

    101 Oakcrest Manor Dr NE

    Leesburg, VA 20176

    Telephone: (703) 777-1317

    See it on Google Maps by clicking here.

     

    The burial will follow immediately after the funeral mass. There will be a solemn procession to the cemetery adjacent to the church.

    Condolences.

    Flowers may be sent to the Loudon Chapel Funeral Home (address listed above) with Solange Hertz identified as the recipient.

     

    In lieu of flowers:

    • Masses may be offered for the repose of her soul
    • Donations may be made to the following charity (to which Solange made an annual donation):

    Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charity

    780 Ridge Road Lackawanna NY 14218

    www.homesofcharity.org

  • The Life of Solange.

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    Obituary.

    Long-time resident of Leesburg, author, and noted Catholic theological commentator 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, NJ, Gustav Hertz of Atlanta, GA, Stephen Hertz of Leesburg, VA, and Christina (Tina) Hertz of Ashburn, VA as well as their respective spouses, 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 15 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. Mrs. Hertz 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 1950s, 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.

     

    The family requests prayers and Masses for the repose of her soul.

  • Articles about Solange.

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