Irma Lillian Elkas

Irma Lillian Elkas, age 90, died peacefully surrounded by her family in Bloomington, Indiana, on March 5, 2016. Irma was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on September 20, 1925, to Thomas Marin (Vonovich) Vaughan and Emma Elizabeth (née Josephy) Vaughan. She was a longtime resident of Leonia and Montvale, New Jersey, and in later years lived in Center Grove and Bloomington, Indiana. Irma was graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Fordham University, and completed coursework for a Master of Arts degree in political science from Columbia University. In later years, she served as President of the Parent Teacher Organization in Montvale, advocated for children's issues, successfully led the petition for sidewalks and coordinated a Bicentennial-themed play in her community. She tutored adults through English as a Second Language, served as a Sunday School teacher at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Montvale, and was a member of Saints Francis and Clare Catholic Church in Center Grove. She was a life-long proponent of world peace, and supported medical research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Hailing from a family of artists and architects on her paternal side, Irma was a gifted landscape painter who shared her love of art, poetry and literature with her beloved children and grandchildren. She was a regular visitor to the public library with her young children in tow, and saw to it that her son and two daughters learned to play her favorite sport of tennis. Summers were all the more beautiful with Irma's gardens of hibiscus, dahlias and impatiens, and she had a knack for spotting four-leaf clovers. Happiness abounded in her home, especially with her singing and playing the piano. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Andrew T. Vaughan, Ed.D. (Doris). The most joyful time of her life was spent during her 44-year marriage to Robert W. Elkas, Ph.D., who preceded her in death in 1998. She was laid to rest next to her husband in the George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. Irma is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Elkas (David Calkins) of Bloomington, Indiana, and Margaret Bimson (Steven) of Harleysville, Pennsylvania; and a son, Thomas Elkas, M.D., (Daniel Johnson) of Chicago; and grandchildren Elias and Ellie Calkins and Alexander and Sabrina Bimson. Irma’s family wishes to extend appreciation to the devoted staffs of Bell Trace Health and Living Community, and Home Instead Senior Care, for their friendship and compassionate care over the years. In Irma's honor, a celebration featuring selected vocal and instrumental music will be held on Saturday, March 26, at 1:30 p.m. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Dean Emeritus Charles Webb, and select graduate students, will be performing. All are welcome to the gathering at Bell Trace, 800 N. Bell Trace Circle, Bloomington, Indiana In lieu of flowers, and in recognition of Irma’s love of books, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the local library in one's community.

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Irma Lillian Elkas

September 20, 1925 - March 5, 2016