Obituary of Vale Buttinger

July 17, 1926 – January 4, 2024

“A Life Well Lived,” Vale (Valentina) Buttinger passed away knowing she had fought the good fight with family near, but not before living life to the fullest in her 98th year on Thursday, January 4, 2024. Vale, born in Telsiai, Lithuania was the beloved wife of the late Fred Buttinger for 44 years, mother to Gordon and Paul, loving grandmother and great-grandmother, sister to the late Eugenia Lemeyzs, Ada Lemezys and Stase Ledford and friend to many.

Vale and sisters Ada and Stase, during WW II for their safety, were sent away by their mother, Staneslava Lemezys and older sister Eugenia, never to see them again for over 40 years, travelled alone across Europe and had many harrowing stories to tell. After the war, Vale and her sister Ada travelled again together to start a new life in Canada. Where Vale met Fred Buttinger on Center Island in Toronto and were married in Toronto.  An opportunity took her to St. Thomas were she and her husband Fred established their first business, a Western Tire Store. While in St. Thomas, in addition to helping run a successful business, Vale gave birth to their two sons.  In 1968 they moved to Waterloo where they opened one of the original Midas Muffler shops in Canada.  After the death of her love of her life, Freddy, Vale would never remarry.  However, Vale’s independence blossomed and grew as she aged.  She built a new home for herself in her 70’s.  Vale continued to winter in her Fort Lauderdale condo and visit with her Florida friends into her 90’s.  Vale was active in the business and other investments right into her 90’s. Prior to Covid, Vale drove herself to see her “Tim Horton’s” friends nearly daily.  Vale was the “luckiest person in the world” when she bought lottery tickets to support charities or stopped into a Casino to play the penny slots.  Vale was a lifelong supporter of K-W Oktoberfest, parishioner at St Agnes and CWL 50-year member. Vale moved into the Bauer lofts in her late 80’s where she lived fully independently right up to the end of her life. We were very lucky to have Vale be engaged with all our family even as she was in the hospital, Facetiming her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She danced at her grandchildren’s weddings, exercised by walking in and around Bauer lofts and living life to the fullest right to the end!  Vale was extremely social as a friend to many, including strangers wherever she went. Vale lived by her favorite expression, “Be Kind to Each Other and Be Happy to be Alive!”

Special thanks to the doctors and nurses from St. Mary’s General Hospital who assisted Vale during the last days of her life.

Vale will be missed by her sons and their families: Gord and Pam Buttinger (Waterloo) and children Maddie and Brett MacLean with daughters Charlotte and MacKenzie, Natalie and Joe Underwood with son Beckett and newborn daughter Collins, Jessica and Michael Matuella, Scott Buttinger and Ainhoa Norindr, Danielle, Emily and Rachel Buttinger; and Paul and Lorraine Buttinger (Kitchener) and their children Vanessa Buttinger and Mike McCauley, and Dennis and Caroline Buttinger.  Vale will be fondly missed by her sister-in-law, Gerda Buttinger and nephew, Markus Buttinger in Salzburg, Austria; cousin’s wife, Gesa Buttinger and her family in Mississauga, as well as her nieces in the USA, Linda Hallinan, and Judy Emond and families; relatives in Lithuania, Giedrius Lemezys, Ramunas Lemezys, Pauliuis Lemezys, and Kristinai Lemezys and families.

Friends and relatives are invited to a Visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 2pm – 4pm and 7pm – 9pm, with vigil prayers to be said at 8:30pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at St. Agnes RC Church, 75 Bluevale St. N, Waterloo at 11am. A Reception will follow immediately at St. Agnes Parish Hall. There will be an Interment at Parkview Cemetery for family and friends afterwards.  All are welcome to celebrate Vale’s Life.

Condolences for the family and donations to St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation or the Catholic Women’s League would be appreciated and may be arranged through www.erbgood.com.