Nelly Wangaja Tshiteya

Nelly Wangaja Tshiteya (Nelly) passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, September 6, 2021, in Falls Church Virginia. Nelly was born on August 14, 1967, in Likasi, Kasai Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nelly was the eldest of six children, the first-born daughter of Dr. Rene M. Tshiteya and Rose K. Tshiteya. Nelly graduated from the State College Area Senior High School in 1985. She began her college studies at Juniata College, in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and she continued her undergraduate courses at the University of Delaware, in Newark, Delaware. Nelly worked professionally for over two decades as an accountant. Nelly was baptized in the Roman Catholic faith as an infant. She received her First Communion and Confirmation. Nelly gave her life to Jesus Christ in 1997 at the Image of God Church In Christ in Temple Hills, Maryland. This momentous and joyous occasion was witnessed by her beloved younger sister Mireille B. Tshiteya. Throughout her entire life, Nelly remained a devout Catholic. She loved to worship at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the National Shrine of St. Jude in Washington, District of Columbia. Nelly loved Gregorian Chants. Nelly was full of life. She loved life. She was a world traveler. She even did elephant trekking in Thailand! She travelled to Asia, Africa, Europe, and all over America, including Canada. She loved Paris. She loved music, food, entertaining and her favorite movies were Bollywood, her favorite cooking shows were ‘Beat Bobby Flay’ and a host of other culinary shows, including but not limited to, Iron Chef, The Kitchen, Food Network Star, Guy’s Grocery Games, and ID discovery and 48 Hours crime shows, and The Travel Channel, especially, Life in the Caribbean, and European soccer games. She wanted to retire in the Islands. Her favorite team was FC Bayern Munich. She loved to cook different cuisines. Especially spicy Indian food. Nelly loved to dance to all kinds of music, including, Luba Tribe traditional dances. Nelly loved eclectic jewelry and clothing from all over the world. Her favorite color was green, and her favorite flowers were orchids. Nelly was a beautiful soul, inside and out. She loved her family and friends. Everywhere Nelly went she made friends and her friends loved her. She fought for us, her younger siblings. She was fierce, unapologetic, sharp, smart, intelligent and she loved life. She was genuine through and through. She had no guile in her and she had no problem speaking her mind. Nelly is survived by her father, Dr. Rene M. Tshiteya and her mother, Rose K. Tshiteya; her sister Mireille B. Tshiteya; her brothers Joseph M. Tshiteya and his wife Trina Tshiteya (nieces JoJo Tshiteya, Pryah Tshiteya, and nephews Rene Divine Tshiteya, Joseph Tshiteya, Joshua Tshiteya, and Justice Tshiteya); Jean-Paul Tshiteya; Rene M. Tshiteya and his wife Elena Tshiteya (niece Nicole Tshiteya and nephew Christian Tshiteya); and her beloved baby brother Yannick T. Tshiteya.

Nelly Wangaja Tshiteya

August 14, 1967 - September 6, 2021

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