Mary Helen (Gonder) Lovitz

Poland - Mary Helen (Gonder) Lovitz, 92, of Poland, transitioned to her heavenly home on May 30, 2024. She passed peacefully surrounded by her close family and friends. 

She was born on February 20, 1932 in Youngstown, the daughter of Francis and Helen Gonder. Mary Helen (their only child) was raised by her beloved father after her mother passed just 9 days after giving birth. Mary, lovingly called, “Butch”, by her friends and family grew up playing sports and traveling to spend summers with family in Maryland. She graduated with honors from Wilson High School in 1951 and greatly treasured her education and her faith. 

In 1953, she married the love of her life, Charles (Chuck) Elsworth Lovitz, a navy man during the Korean War. Chuck led a career with the Tamarkin Company for over 40 years while they raised their two daughters, Cathie and Caren. The family enjoyed hosting picnics and gatherings in their home and visiting regular spots with lifelong friends. The couple enjoyed traveling to see Chuck’s ship, the USS Wisconsin through the years. 

Mary Helen worked as a head bakery girl for more than 26 years at IGA-Fazio’s in Struthers, the Boardman Value King, and at the Austintown Giant Eagle. She met some of her dearest friends through this work.  

After retiring in 1994 and being widowed in 1997, Mary Helen became even more involved in her church and other volunteer work. As a chartered member of New Life Church, she helped to create the JAMS (Jesus and Me) group along with friends who had also been recently widowed. For decades now, the group has continued to support women walking through this season of life. She also dedicated her time to one on one care of elderly patients in need of extra care and companionship. Mary Helen faithfully served the New Life Food Bank for more than a decade. All of these brought her great joy and fulfillment. She also enjoyed traveling with her friends and family. She especially enjoyed bus trips with friends to historic US places, and any trip to the beach. Mary Helen loved her dogs who provided loyal companionship through the years. Mary was also sure to share the love of Jesus and the Gospel with anyone she met. 

Mary Helen leaves behind to cherish her memory her beloved two daughters, Cathie Wightman and Caren Fontanarosa and her fiancé Rich Varner of Boardman, and her granddaughter, Rachel Wightman and her husband Vishnu Balan of Seattle, WA, along with  many dear and lifelong friends. 

Mary Helen was greeted at Heaven’s gates by all those who went ahead of her to be with Jesus, her mother, Helen Hernan Gonder and father, Francis Richard Gonder, her beloved husband, Chuck, and her dear son-in-law Randy Wightman. It brings her family great joy and comfort to know they are together again.

It is with deep sorrow that we say farewell for now, but also with great joy that we remember a life well-lived and hold onto all of the love that she shared so generously.

There will be a time of gathering to celebrate the life of Mary Helen on Saturday, July 6, 2024 from 10:00 am until 10:50 am at Highway Tabernacle Church, 3000 S Raccoon Rd., Austintown, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am with Pastor Duane Bull as celebrant. We hope you come to share in this time of remembering our beloved mom, gram, and dear friend

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Mary Helen’s family.

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