Eleanor F. (DiMarco) McDevitt

Eleanor F. McDevitt (nee DiMarco), beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away suddenly on March 11 th at the age of 82. Born on August 23,1943 in Brooklyn, New York, Eleanor grew up in Philadelphia (North Philly and Roxborough) and spent her entire life loving God and all the people He sent her way.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, Cesare and Rosalie (Spinella) DiMarco, and her husband of 41 years, Joseph A. McDevitt, Jr., whom she met on the beach in Avalon. She is survived by her loving children, Christine C. McDevitt, Joseph C. McDevitt (Leslie), and Kevin P. McDevitt, as well as her grandchildren (Alysa and Melissa), cousins, and extended family.
Helping people was the great joy of Eleanor's life. She worked as a low-income property manager for over 30 years at the Allegheny West Foundation in North Philadelphia, serving the neighborhood where she spent the early part of her childhood.

When she retired, she redirected her energy toward volunteering. She spent many hours holding babies on Jefferson's NICU, serving as a Eucharistic minister at St. Phillip Neri Church, bringing communion to residents at the Hill at Whitemarsh and to patients at Jefferson hospital, and working in the cafe at St. Joseph Villa.

Eleanor was a devout Catholic and prayed the Rosary daily. She adored her family, especially her granddaughters. She enjoyed black coffee, her daily apple, vanilla ice cream, fast walking, and a good book. She made the best chicken cutlet. Eleanor had a compassionate heart and a bright, generous spirit. She loved to laugh. Eleanor also loved to talk, and she talked to everyone. She made many, many wonderful friends over the years and considered them family. She cherished every meal, visit, phone call, game, movie, theater show, and moment on the beach that was spent with each of them. The McDevitt family would especially like to thank Eleanor's friends who checked in frequently or visited regularly in recent years when it was harder for her to go out. Your kindness meant the world to her.

While she will be greatly missed, her family is confident that Eleanor is on the move in Heaven catching up with all her loved ones and old friends - and probably making new friends as she always did wherever she went.

Eleanor requested years ago that her body be cremated when she died. Relatives and friends are invited to visit her family at St. Phillip Neri Church in Lafayette Hill on Saturday, March 28th beginning at 9:30 AM followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Philadelphia.

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