Jiri Hlavaty

WEATHER ALERT - SCHEDULE CHANGE

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Due to the forecasted snowstorm, and in the interest of everyone's safety, Jiri's services will be moved to Wednesday and Thursday, as follows:  Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 4-8 PM at the funeral home, with funeral service on Thursday February 26, at 10:00 AM at Emergence Church. See below for more details, and thank you for your understanding.

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Jiri Hlavaty, age 69, of Wayne passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after a month-long battle with cancer with his family by his side.

Jiri was born in Náchod, Czechoslovakia to Anna and Vitezslav Hlavaty, and was the younger brother of Milena Passos. At the age of 12, the family immigrated to the United States of America, settling in Jackson Heights, NY. He went on to pursue both a Bachelors (1978) and Masters (1983) of Electrical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ.

Jiri loved his work in electrical engineering, working alongside his business partner, Gordon at Shore Microsystems since 1997, while also consulting part-time for Dewey Electronics.

Jiri was a devoted husband and father and was willing to help family and friends at the drop of a hat; for computer, electronics, home, and car-related questions, problems, or repairs. His daughter, Amanda, joked that he should have hung a shingle outside to declare himself “Mr. Fix It.” He also enjoyed riding his bike and going on lunchtime walks with his daughter, with the mission of getting coffee.

Jiri met the love of his life Arleen at The Singer Company/ Kearfott Division in 1979. They were married in 1985. Jiri is predeceased by his parents, Vitezslav Hlavaty and Anna Horakova, in-laws William and Margaret Wedemeier, and brother-in-laws Alan Wedemeier and Mike Messina. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Arleen Hlavaty (Wedemeier); daughter Amanda Hlavaty; sister Milena Passos; sister-in-laws Carol Warren and Coreen Messina; sister and brother-in-law Dianne and Matt Effertz, along with the blessings of many nieces and nephews.

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In Lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Jiri's memory to these charities:

Emergence Church, 930 Riverview Dr., Suite 500, Totowa, NJ   07512, or

Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, or 

Cancer Research Institute, 29 Broadway, Floor 4, New York, NY 10006-3111