Arlene Joan Horvath

Arlene Joan Horvath, 89, died peacefully while surrounded by family on November 5, 2025, in Chagrin Falls, OH, where she resided the last two years of her life.

Born May 6, 1936, in Pawtucket, RI, Arlene was the first of two daughters of Alice Winifred and Arthur C. Langley and grew up in Lincoln, RI. She graduated from Classical High School in 1954 and graduated from Bryant College with an Associates Degree in 1956. She was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency and moved to Washington, DC to begin her career as a legal secretary. It was there that she met Charlie Horvath whom she wed in 1958.

After Washington, DC and to be closer to Charlie who was from Long Island, she moved to New York City where she worked for a Manhattan-based law firm. After marrying, she and Charlie lived in Sayville on Long Island where they raised their three children. When they went to school, she returned to her legal work first in Sayville at a local law firm then for the Islip Town Hall where she worked for the Town Supervisor and later Suffolk County where she worked for the County Executive. Her final position with the county government was at the Sayville Courthouse with the police department. Upon retirement in 1995, Arlene and Charlie moved to Shaftsbury, Vermont, to enjoy their golden years at the foot of the Green Mountains.

Arlene enjoyed playing the piano and accompanied local community groups for various events on Long Island. In her retirement years, she took up water color painting, including landscapes and still lifes. She and Charlie traveled in their retirement across the US and Canada, and her favorite places were the Maine Coast where she'd enjoy lobster and a glass of chardonnay and Paris, France.

Central to her life and where she put most of her focus was her family. She loved, cared and supported her children and their families as well as extended family always. Whenever there was something to be celebrated or tears to be wiped, Arlene was there.

Arlene is survived by her children, Charlene Leitner (Peter) and Wayne (Maria), in addition to four grandchildren and three great grandchildren as well as her sister, Devon Kahler and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband in 2024 and her eldest son, Brian Charles Horvath, in 1995.

Following a private funeral service, Arlene will be interred at Munn Cemetery, Newbury Township, OH next to her beloved Charlie. Memorial contributions can be made to the Threshold Choir, https://thresholdchoir.org/webform/making-donation/ or Doctors Without Borders, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/