Garbuny

Melitta “Litty” L. Garbuny, 101, of Butler, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

She was born Nov. 13, 1923, in Vienna, Austria, to the late Moritz Lowy and the late Fanny Berlin Lowy.

In 1938, Melitta’s family was forced to flee their ancestral home of Austria due to the rise of violent antisemitism and fascism led by Hitler and the Nazi party. Her family escaped first to France, then to England, until finally settling in New York City. Most of her extended family members were not so lucky — many of them, including her grandmother, were murdered in concentration camps. Melitta never forgot these experiences or the losses her family suffered.

From her arrival in the U.S., Melitta enrolled in Hunter College to study mathematics. Upon the country’s entering into World War II, Melitta was able to contribute to the war effort as a civilian in the Department of the Army from 1943 to 1945 as a statistician calculating tank shell projection. Coming back to New York City, she then attended Columbia University. Keen to continue working in mathematics or computers, she encountered frustration when many jobs in her field were not available to women in that era.

Not to be deterred, Melitta built her career as a high school math teacher instead. After many decades teaching, she retired, but stayed active. A zealous volunteer, she was a member of the League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women Butler Branch, Pennsylvania Retired Teachers, Butler Library Second Century Society, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and Hadassah. In her retirement, Melitta was a founding member of Slippery Rock University's Learning in Retirement and a board member for several years at Congregation B'nai Abraham. She edited the Newhaven at Clearview Newsletter for many years and organized parties at Newhaven at Clearview.

A loving mother, Melitta had three daughters, seven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She especially loved when new babies joined the family. Melitta enjoyed reading, learning, traveling, knitting, going to the symphony and listening to the news.

She is survived by her children, Vivian Prunier of Westminster, Vt., Carole Vogel of Branchville, N.J., and Ellen Garbuny of Butler; seven grandchildren, Sarah Prunier Law, Rachel Prunier, James Prunier, Joshua Vogel, Kathryn Vogel, Emily Best and Zachary Best; great-grandchildren, Nathan Law, River Law, Clara Vogel, Sasha Vogel, Jamison Markle, Mckenzie Markle, Abbie DiZazzo, Leela DiZazzo, Max Best, Zoe Schecter, Maximus Schecter, Aerin Prunier and Louisa Prunier; two nieces, Maureen Buzdygon and Irene Lowy; and one nephew, James Steg. She also is survived by her honorary grandchildren, Kristen McClean, Megan Coval, Candice Markle, Annie Coval and Gracie Coval.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Max Garbuny, whom she married June 15, 1947, and who died Aug. 23, 1999; one brother, George Lowy; one sister, Nina Steg; and one niece, Frances Steg.

Special thanks to Celeste, Karen and the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Home for their tender attention in Melitta’s last years.

GARBUNY — Friends and family of Melitta “Litty” L. Garbuny, who died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, will be received from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 2, at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St., Butler.

A brief graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Congregation of B'nai Abraham Cemetery, 265 Portman Road, Butler, with Ben Vincent, of the Congregation of B'nai Abraham, officiating.

All are encouraged to come to the Meal of Consolation, which will be held immediately after the graveside service, at the Congregation of B'nai Abraham Synagogue, 519 N. Main St., Butler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Butler Public Library, 218 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001.

All who knew Litty are encouraged to share memories and upload photos to her unique remembrance page at www.thompson-miller.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.