The life of Lidia Elizabeth Vegh Marton, 97, who lived with grace, a keen mind and unconditional love, came to an end Tuesday January 3, 2017. She had been residing at The Willows Assisted Living Facility since March of 2016.
Born as a Hungarian on September 1, 1919 near Bratislava, Slovakia and a graduate of its’ University, she taught primary and middle school graders in Hungarian, often in the same classroom, for 45 years. She endured the hardships of the War years as the Hungarian areas she taught in became part of Czechoslovakia and then Slovakia, continuing her teaching and mentoring under different regimes, always an advocate of the child, her students. She was deeply devoted to her faith and lived by the words of Psalms 91.
She was greatly loved and honored for her kindness and manner of teaching and care for each child, like a parent, involving herself in all areas of the children’s life. Her impact was so strong that even 50 years later her students remembered her with letters and cards. Most recently she received a citation for her contribution to the academic and cultural betterment of her pupils, now citizens of Slovakia.
In 1984 she married widower Laszlo Marton of Slinger, Wisconsin who had returned to Bratislava for their 45th class reunion. This reunion ended in a blissfully happy union and immigration to America where his children and grandchildren welcomed her and fell in love with her themselves. In 1995 they moved from Wisconsin to The Downs in Winchester, a home that Mr. Marton’s eldest daughter, Ilona Benham of Boyce had built and prepared for them, and where his other two daughters, Jude Zovar from Greenfield, WI and Lencsi Franklin of San Diego, CA with husbands and families often visited.
Lidia’s Hungarian dinners, the Egg Nog she made at Christmas for her neighbors, her soups, and her gracious ways will long be remembered as will her amazing memory, political conversations and knowledge of poetry and literature. She was adored as a Mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who enriched the lives of each family member and as she often told them, they enriched hers.
Locally she leaves behind Ilona and Harry Benham and their children, Katie Szechenyi Manheimer, her husband Howard and their daughter Isabella, of Winchester; Matthew Szechenyi and Ruth of Boyce, and their son Andrew; Kristi Szechenyi Perry and her husband Tod of Dedham, MA and their children Mac, Ilona and Charlie; Jude and Tom Zovar and their children: Monika, Toni, Caleb, Aja, their spouses and children; Lencsi Angel Franklin and her husband Ron, and children Carmen, Lensci and spouses; Kassie Benham of Charlottesville and Page Benham Langley and Chris of Lynchburg, VA and their children Christopher and Julia. They have all been blessed by her life.
The Benham family wishes to thank the Blue Ridge Hospice for their loving and comforting care and friends for their thoughts and prayers. A Memorial Service is planned for late Spring.

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