Emmy Lu Daly

In a society that worships youth, Emmy Lu Daly was an inspiring role model, always saying yes to new things in old age. For example in her 80s and 90s, she gave musical performances for other seniors as the “Golden Miss M.” With her husky voice and feather boa, she brought songs of the Gilded Age, Vaudeville and World War II to many different venues. Her theme song was “What a Wonderful World” and she was singing it, along with other golden oldies to the very end when she died peacefully at the VA Hospital in Washington DC on May 5, 2024. Emmy Lu Daly was born on August 4th 1923 in Stillwater, Minnesota to Ruth Mary Schuttinger and Irving Joseph Daly, both amateur performers and musicians who ran the local newspaper. At a young age Emmy Lu started piano lessons and then was enrolled at the drama school at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. Her education was interrupted by WWII when she enlisted for two years (1944-1946) as a WAVE working on airplanes in Utah. After the war, she graduated from University of Minnesota with a BA in English Literature but yearned for a life in the theater moving to New York City joining Martha Graham’s dance troupe and acting in avant-garde plays. She married in 1957 and moved to Washington D.C., had two children and was a devoted mother. She eventually divorced and moved to the British Virgin Islands where she took up deep sea fishing and won a tournament for the largest caught Blue Marlin. After a few years she returned to Washington D.C. where she found an outlet for her talents in the Kerygma theater group at The Potter’s House, a coffee-house founded by Church of the Saviour. Over many years of acting and directing her creative gifts were loved and admired by many. She then joined Seekers, a Church of the Saviour community, and had been an active participant for more than 30 years. Emmy Lu supported herself in office administration roles and then worked for over a decade at L’Arche, a residential service for adults with intellectual disabilities. She was instrumental in getting a L’Arche home established in Arlington, Virginia, so her son, Fritz, could be cared for there. She retired from L’Arche at age 81 and self published a collection of her poems titled “And Then Again…”. She continued to express her creativity through art classes and poetry readings, her love of movement through yoga and tai-chi and her sharp mind by daily crossword puzzles and competitive Rummikub games (which she won half the time). Later in life Emmy Lu was fortunate to move into the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington DC in April 2017. She enjoyed many years of excellent care and camaraderie at the AFRH, always dressed to the nines and smiling at everyone as she zoomed around the campus from one activity to another on her power chair. She was so beloved there were six birthday parties held in her honor for her 100th year! She was so grateful for all the attention – being center stage once again. Emmy Lu is survived by her son Fritz Schloss of Virginia, her daughter Lisanne Schloss and son-in-law Richard Johnson of Michigan, her nephew Patrick Daly and his wife Margie of Oregon, her great nephew John Daly and his wife Ardith of Washington, great nephew Daniel Daly his wife Danielle and their son (her great great nephew) Lewis of Oregon and her goddaughter Maureen Matsen of Virginia. Her brother John George Daly and his wife Marjorie predeceased her. She also leaves behind a vast and varied array of dear friends that carry treasured memories of her in their hearts. Emmy Lu Daly’s memorial service will be held at Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20012 on Friday May 31st at 11:00am In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to www.larche-gwdc.org. Please make checks out to: “L’Arche Greater Washington D.C.” and send to: L’Arche GWDC P.O. Box 21471 Washington, DC 20009