Hilarye Natalie Munitz

Hilarye Natalie Munitz (née Lippert), known affectionately as Chaya, passed away peacefully in the early evening of March 10, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia, surrounded by close family. Born on September 4, 1938, in Johannesburg, South Africa, she was the daughter of Israel and Julia Lippert and the beloved older sister of Rosalind.

Hil was known for her warmth, sharp wit, and deep love for her family. She had a natural way with children and animals and always had pampered pets in her home. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the great joy of her life, and she was generous to a fault with them, her bags overflowing with toys and treats on every visit. Beautiful, elegant, and stylish to the end, she kept her hair and nails perfect and wore her skinny jeans and black leather jacket with confidence. Her beautiful cursive handwriting filled wondrous birthday cards sent without fail each year. When she laughed, her face lit up with giddy, schoolgirl-like joy. She often spoke with a playful smirk about her childhood as a tomboy, happiest outdoors and full of spirit.

As a young divorced mother raising children in South Africa during the 1960s and 70s, Hil navigated a society that stigmatized and offered little support to women in her position. With determination, charisma, resilience, and independence, she worked in commission sales and provided for her children against considerable odds. She loved the ocean. After her children were grown, she moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town to live on her beloved Clifton Beach, where family often visited and stayed in the flat that awakens fond memories for all. Deeply connected to nature, she delighted in pointing out small details others might miss—the colors of a sunset, the shape of the rocks, tiny snails in the tide pools. She lived a vibrant life in Cape Town, surrounded by close friends and a strong community. Her devotion to her family ultimately led her to leave her cherished Clifton and move to Atlanta, Georgia, so she could be close to those she loved most.

Hilarye is survived by her children, Linda, Lauren, and Greg; daughter-in-law Francesca, who was lovingly by her side and devoted to her care; six grandchildren, Carla, Brent, Adam, Ryan, Judd, and Ashton; and five great-grandchildren, Mia, Juliet, Jackson, Isaac, and Owen. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister, Rosalind, whom she loved and missed dearly and with whom she is now reunited.