Martha Ann DiVito, 73 of The Villages, Florida died peacefully on May 3, 2016 at The Villages Hospice House after battling Parkinson’s Disease for 11 years. Born October 27, 1942 in Westville, New Jersey, she is predeceased by her parents, Vincent S. Putiri, Sr. and Marianna Sori Putiri of Woodbury, New Jersey.
Survivors include her husband of nearly 50 years, John J. DiVito, Sr. of The Villages, Florida; her daughter, Suzanne DiVito Simonelli and son-in-law, Mark Simonelli and their two children, Michael and Gina Simonelli of Downingtown, Pennsylvania; her son, John J. DiVito, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Amy Vernick DiVito and their two children, Jack and Matthew DiVito of Larchmont, New York; and her brother, Vincent S. Putiri, Jr. and his wife, Pauline Pedrick Putiri of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina along with a nephew, Vincent A. Putiri, his wife and daughter, a niece, Emily L. Putiri and her husband, and a second niece, Kathleen M. Putiri.
Martha worked as a homemaker, administrative assistant, school librarian, teacher, and office manager. In 2005 she retired from The Stewart Agency in Carney’s Point, New Jersey. The highlight of her career was working for the State of New Jersey in Trenton serving as Chief of Staff for Speaker of the Assembly, The Honorable John J. Collins from October 1992 to January 2002. Her employment history also included working for Fireline Sales and Service in West Deptford, New Jersey.
A 1960 graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City, New Jersey, Martha also attended Gwynedd Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. She lived most of her life in Woodbury, New Jersey, moved to Ocean City, New Jersey in 2005, then The Villages, Florida in 2015.
Martha was a loving wife, mother, “Nonna,” daughter, sister and friend. She most enjoyed spending time with and caring for her family. Her favorite pastimes included cooking, gardening and taking golf cart rides with her husband. Everyone requested her recipes for Italian meatballs and sauce. Her delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies were highly coveted by family and friends.
Martha’s family hopes to honor her by trying to be as wonderful as she believed them all to be.
Burial at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Leesburg, Florida will be private. Memorial donations may be made to The Villages Hospice House, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, Florida 32162-9985.
