Niva De Vito 1930-2022
LIBERTY — It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of family matriarch, Niva De Vito, 91, on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Niva was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and mother-in-law.
Niva was born in Johnstown, Pa., in 1930, to Artemisio and Anna DelGrosso DiBacco.
She worked in a garment factory in Johnstown prior to her marriage to Valentino De Vito, in Italy, in 1952. Niva and Valentino moved to Youngstown soon after and raised their four children in Liberty, where they lived for over 50 years. As her children grew, she worked in the cafeterias at Liberty Local Schools.
Niva belonged to the Liberty Mothers’ Club, and along with her husband, attended every possible sporting, school, church or musical event of her grandchildren. Niva and Valentino enjoyed traveling in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and attended many concerts and opera performances, which was a particular love of theirs. She was also a great fan of Coach K. and Duke basketball, Notre Dame football and basketball, YSU football, and a long suffering follower of the Cleveland Indians and the Browns.
Niva leaves her devoted children, Diana De Vito, Frances (Wayne) Tanner, Dr. Valentino (Claudia) De Vito and Dr. Peter (Cynthia) De Vito; and beloved grandchildren, Allison (Tom) Tanner Gill, Dr. Beatrice (Nicholas) Olesko, Dr. Gregory (Megan) Tanner, Elizabeth De Vito, Dr. Peter De Vito Jr. and Dr. Robert De Vito. She also leaves three great-grandchildren, Amelia Olesko, and Emerson and Chase Tanner; her brother-in-law, Michael (Dolores) De Vito; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania and Italy.
Niva was preceded in death by her husband, Valentino De Vito, who died in 2015; a brother, Arthur Debb; and a sister, Evelyn Sebestyen.
A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by the Rev. Scott Kopp, was held March 12, 2022, at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Vienna, where Niva belonged since 1965.
The family respectfully asks that, in lieu of flowers, material tributes take the form of contributions in Niva’s name to the De Vito Family Scholarship to help deserving students in the field of music education at Youngstown State University, in care of the YSU Foundation, 655 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 44502; or ALSAC / St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Professional arrangements are by the Dillon & Santucci Funeral Home, 4471 Warren-Sharon Road, Vienna, OH 44473, 330-856-0918. Friends are invited to express their condolences and memories to the family by visiting her tribute at www.dillon-santucci.com.
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