Elizabeth (Martinelli) Hlavaty

Elizabeth (Martinelli) Hlavaty of Clinton passed away on Wednesday, July 3 after a brief illness. Liz or Lizzie, as her friends and family knew her, was born December 6, 1942 in Utica. She was the daughter of the late Danny and Mary (Thomas) Martinelli of Utica. She adored her parents and was especially close to her father, relishing his larger-than-life persona as a well-known business man, loyal friend, and doting father. Lizzie went to UCA where she enjoyed dancing, parties and hanging out with friends, before graduating in 1960. She married in Ronald T. Hlavaty in 1964. The marriage produced two cherished daughters, Danielle (Hlavaty) Colombaris of Randolph, NJ and Melissa (Hlavaty) Clay, of Charlotte, NC. Liz was also blessed with two adoring sons-in-law, Jim Colombaris of NJ and John Clay of NC, previously of New Hartford, NY. Liz’s pride and joy was being a grandmother to her four remarkable grandsons, CJ Colombaris, Ethan Clay, Thomas Colombaris and Adam Clay. Her pride was evident as she delighted in gushing about their accomplishments any chance she got. Liz is also survived by her beloved brother Dominic Martinelli, with whom she had a very close relationship. She also held a tender place in her heart for her niece and nephew, and a special sister-in-law. Throughout her life, Liz’s focus and passion was always her family. Her love and concern was unwavering. She was an extremely hardworking woman and did whatever it took to care for her children; often working multiple jobs to make ends meet. She was also an avid reader and an excellent and prolific cook and baker. Her most cherished memories were of celebrating parties and holidays, especially the big Italian Christmas, with her large family which included many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She never stopped missing those days but the treasured memories were always of great comfort to her. Liz was a life-long resident of Utica, NY. She worked at notable local restaurants and in various departments with Price Chopper, in Rome and Utica. After retiring from Price Chopper, Liz worked at GPO Credit Union, and Mohawk Valley Community College. She continued to make friends and positively impact people along the way. Liz collected friends like some people collect stamps or coins and was gratified by the enduring relationships she forged, many spanning 40 years or more. She especially cherished a close relationship with her cousin, John Morelli, who passed away in 2007. Lizzie will be forever missed by her family and all who knew her. The loss of the loving, tender-hearted mom, grandma and friend is incalculable. Should you choose to honor her memory in some way, Liz always donated what little she could to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. She believed in their mission from its inception in 1962. Or, just have a cup of coffee with a friend and talk about old times… This tribute to Elizabeth’s life has been lovingly written by her family.

Elizabeth (Martinelli) Hlavaty

December 6, 1942 - July 3, 2024