Elaine de la Vega

LA JOLLA, CA — Elaine (Misiewicz) de la Vega passed away in La Jolla, surrounded by her loving family, on November 8, 2021.

Elaine grew up in Chicopee, MA, where she said it was always too cold. She loved to travel, and as a clinical lab scientist, she worked and traveled until settling into work specializing in microbiology at Mercy Hospital’s pathology lab in San Diego. Elaine’s intrepid and resourceful approach to the world led her to pre-nixon China, Afghanistan, Iran and Yugoslavia, and many countries with nice warm weather. Elaine and her group of friends of 35 years would sit together to plan trips, relay adventures, and discuss antics of their cats.

Elaine was a voracious reader and life-long 1942 - 2021 learner. She always had a wisdom and clarity on world events over the years. Classical music was always on in the background at home, and her excellent cooking drew from her travels and was healthy to boot. Her life-long love of animals drew her to volunteering at the SD Humane Society and at The Ark Antiques, benefiting animal welfare charities.

Elaine married Dr. Daniel

de la Vega, a widower with five grown children, setting off on a wonderful adventure in retirement in 1996. She held a special and beloved place in the family: new yet somehow knowing and understanding of everyone’s lives; always taking an interest and giving her wry observations in return. She was a caring and thoughtful sister to Joan, always there for her while growing up in chilly Chicopee, and then very happy when Joan and her family settled in Virginia Beach, travelling there often.

Over the years, Elaine and Dan visited places special to both of them, including Spain, Ireland and the Holy Land. Elaine, together with Dan, filled their lives with family, friends, grandchildren, and church. Elaine and

Dan enjoyed nearly 25 years together until his passing in 2020.

Elaine was preceded in death by Dan and her parents Henry and Lee Misiewicz. She is survived by her sister Joan (Bill Miller); niece Tracy (Matt Jackson) and their children Cole and Riley; step-children Rachel (Bob Ardecky), Dan Jr. (Holly), Mary, John (Jenny), and Fred; step-grandchildren Daniel III, Sam, James, Andrew; and the Ardecky children Llysia (Chris Calvert), Jessica (Frank Ben-eze), and Nick.

Funeral Mass will be held at All Hallows Church, 6602 La Jolla Scenic Dr South, on Friday January 21st at 11 a.m. with reception to follow.

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