Rena Mindel Gitlitz

Rena Mindel Gitlitz, 71, a devoted mother, social worker, and fierce advocate for the underserved, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2024. Born on February 4, 1953, in Montreal, Canada, Rena was the beloved daughter of the late Yitzchak David Bialy and Basia Liba Hirshfeld.

Rena's academic journey began at the Yeshiva of Flatbush, where she graduated in 1970. She pursued higher education at Brooklyn College, earning her bachelor’s degree, followed by a Master of Social Work from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. These achievements laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to those who often go unheard—homeless individuals, those struggling with mental illness, and others in need of a voice and a hand.

Her work embodied a deep commitment to the values of empathy, justice, and kindness, and her efforts touched and changed many lives.

Rena is survived by her sons David and Daniel, daughter Miriam, daughter-in-laws Jennifer and Ambria, and grandsons Benjamin and Nathan.

Graveside services were held at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge, NJ, where family and friends gathered to honor her memory under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

Rena’s life was a testament to the power of selflessness and compassion, and her legacy will live on in the lives she touched. She will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all who knew her.