Obituary of Thomas J. DeVito

Thomas J. DeVito, 91, of Ringwood, NJ, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2018. Thomas was born on October 11, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Concetta and Peter DeVito. He was a World War II veteran and served his country with honor. He was a precision machinist who later became a well-respected, hard-working and successful entrepreneur in several family-run businesses both in New York and New Jersey.

Thomas continued to reside in Brooklyn after he married the love of his life Mary Bua where they raised their three daughters. Tom and Mary worked side-by-side in most of their family-run businesses. The first business together was a Hobby Shop and then a Candy Store/Luncheonette in Brooklyn, NY. In 1975, he sold the business and moved to Ringwood, NJ to their vacation home which had been a weekend retreat for him and his family where they shared wonderful memories.

After being retired for a couple of years, he missed having his own business and realized that he was an entrepreneur at heart. He and his wife then decided to open the Oakland Card and Gift Shop in the late 1970's. Shortly thereafter, when the business began to struggle due to the major food chain closing, Tom ventured out to find a well-established and profitable business that could help offset some expenses from the card shop. He purchased the Cupsaw Market in Ringwood which he owned and operated for almost a decade. For many years, Tom ran this business while his wife ran the card shop.

Tom will forever be remembered for his contribution to the Cupsaw Lake Community for his special effort in petitioning and negotiating a deal to keep the Cupsaw Market as a permanent fixture at the Plaza which is still valued today by the Cupsaw Community. Tom was a kind-hearted man who cared about family, people and his community.

When Tom and his wife finally retired, Tom spent most of his time landscaping his property and working on outdoor construction projects with the help of his wife. While Tom enjoyed working on his home, he loved his family and it was always his life's focus. Tom would never hesitate to drop what he was doing to help his three daughters.

When his wife was diagnosed with dementia in 2010, he devoted the remainder of his life to protecting her and providing her with the best of care. When Mary died on November 27, 2017, Tom was left heartbroken because they had been together for 70 years. When people would ask him why he took such good care of his wife when she didn't even know him as her disease progressed; he responded, "Because I know who she is and she is my wife." Tom's dedication and devotion to his wife has touched many people's lives and his family will forever be grateful for all the kindness and love that many people have shown to him through the years.

Tom is survived by his devoted sister Marie DeVito, who is like a guardian angel to him and his family; his loving daughters Louise Loweth and her husband Arthur, Donna Cerrato and Richard Hulit, and Joanne Kearns and her husband John; his five cherished grandchildren, Janine Loweth and Joseph Vigil, Thomas Loweth and his wife Crystal, Amanda Cerrato and Mike Barbera, Danielle Cerrato, and Ryan Kearns; and his three cherished great grandchildren Samarah Vigil, Thomas Loweth, and Bella Loweth; and his wife's niece Vivian Sagar and husband Charles Sagar, who were like a sister and brother.

Thomas was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary of 66 years; his parents Concetta and Peter DeVito; his sister Louise; and his son-in-law Vincent Cerrato.

The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary R.C. Church, 45 Urban Club Road, Wayne.

The interment will follow at Maryrest Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, 770 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah. A prayer service will be held at the Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New Jersey Botanical Gardens in Ringwood, NJ at www. njbg.org. Please add special instructions and note that it is a memorial donation for Tom DeVito otherwise your donation will not be linked to his name.