Sally (Lavanty) Grabovac

Sally Lavanty Grabovac, age 92, of Youngstown, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 24, 2026, with her family by her side.

She was born on February 24, 1934, in Youngstown, Ohio, to John and Angela (D’Amato) Lavanty. Sally was raised in the close-knit Italian neighborhood of Brier Hill on Youngstown’s north side, a place that shaped her strong values, resilience, and deep sense of family.

On August 27, 1955, she married her beloved husband, Pasko A. Grabovac. Together, they built a life centered on devotion to family and unwavering care for one another.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her siblings, Esther Lavanty, Samuel Lavanty, Nicholas Lavanty, and John Lavanty.

She is survived by her loving children, Marie (Terry) Martin, Patrick (Barb) Grabovac, John Grabovac, Edward Grabovac, and Sally Grabovac; her cherished grandchildren, Patrick (Renee) Grabovac, Matthew Grabovac, and Alexandria Tonkovich; her beloved great-grandchildren, Giavanna, Adrianna, and Nico as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Sally’s life was defined by how deeply she cared for others. She was a lifelong caregiver, devoting herself selflessly to her family. She lovingly cared for her son John and stood faithfully by her husband through his declining health, and helped raise her granddaughter, always putting the needs of others before her own.

She found great joy in cooking and was known for preparing meals from scratch with exceptional skill, especially those of her Italian roots. Her kitchen was a place of comfort, tradition, and togetherness. Sally was also exceptionally talented in the arts. She enjoyed oil painting and clay sculpting and was a gifted seamstress who created her own clothing with care and attention to detail.

She was also known for her sharp wit and unmistakable personality, often expressing herself with a humor and candor that those who loved her will always remember fondly.

Sally will be remembered for her strength, her devotion, her creativity, and the deep love she gave so freely to her family.

The family would like to thank all the staff of Aventura Humility House, Harmony Hospice and her personal caregivers (Michele, Kathie, Karen, Debbie and Caroline) for their dedication, compassion and the loving care that they provided to Sally throughout the years.

She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Private services will be held for the family. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Association in Sally’s memory

Arrangements by Cremation & Funeral Service by Gary S. Silvat Inc. Share memories and send condolences by visiting cremateohio.com.