Benefrida Lauw Seifart of Ashburn, Virginia passed away peacefully at home on November 1, 2017. She was 83 years young. Benefrida, known to many as "Fifi", was born in Asuncion, Paraguay and naturalized in the US. She was the daughter of Wilhelm Lauw and Semiramides Perez Moreno. Fifi resided in McLean, Virginia for many years, together with her husband Hugo J. Seifart, also of Paraguay.

After marrying in 1956 in Washington, D.C. and having her four children, Fifi graduated from George Mason University in 1975 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. Afterwards, she began a career in teaching Spanish and worked at a Manassas, VA public high school. In 1980 she turned to working as a Spanish Language and Culture Instructor for the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. Department of State and retired in 1999 after 19 years of service.

Fifi always enjoyed a good "telenovela", imparting knowledge to all and following current events. Her numerous interests included, art, music, Latin American literature and the support of indigenous peoples of the Americas. She was a devoted mother, wife and independent spirit in all things.

Fifi is preceeded in death by her husband, Hugo J. Seifart, and her parents. Left to cherish Fifi are four children, Hugo W. Seifart, Miriam C. Seifart, Beatrice M. Seifart, and Armin G. Seifart, as well as, three grandchildren, Tommy, Lucas and Dylan. Other survivors include her three brothers, Guillermo Lauw of La Plata, Argentina, Juan Jorge Lauw and Hermann Lauw of Asuncion, Paraguay, their spouses and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be considered in her name to the Benevolent Care Fund at Ashby Ponds Retirement Community in Ashburn.

Family and friends are invited to share their memories between 10-11 AM on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 and services will immediately follow at 11AM. Burial to commence at 1:30PM at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, 3411 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201.