Anita M. Novak

Anita Marie Novak (née Ciamacco)
June 30, 1931 – November 10, 2025
Anita Marie Novak (née Ciamacco) passed away peacefully at Munson Medical Center on November 10, 2025, with her family by her side.
Anita was born on June 30, 1931, in Dunbar, Pennsylvania, to Pasquale and Mary Ciamacco (née DeOre), the youngest of six siblings. She was deeply proud of her first-generation Italian American heritage. Her father immigrated to America in 1903 from Pacentro, Italy, at the age of 14.
Anita spoke fondly of her childhood and family. Their home was filled with music and large family gatherings. She admired her parents' strong work ethic and their commitment to ensuring that all six children received post-high school vocational training or education. Her parents made this possible by working long hours and eventually owning two businesses in Dunbar-a food store and a tavern. They were later recognized by their community for their generosity; during the Great Depression, families who bought food on store credit were never sent a bill if they couldn't afford to pay.
Singing and listening to Big Band music was a cherished pastime in the Ciamacco household. Anita's love for music began early, and she was a gifted songstress who performed with the DeOre Girl Orchestra. The band, founded and led by her Uncle Tony and Aunt Margaret, played in clubs and dance halls across Western Pennsylvania during her teen years.
Although music was her passion, Anita pursued a nursing career after graduating from Connellsville High School in 1949. Inspired by her sister-in-law and registered nurse Regina Smith, whom she greatly admired, Anita earned her registered nursing degree from St. Joseph School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1952. She practiced nursing in Pennsylvania, California, Maryland, Michigan, and the District of Columbia over a 25-year span.
On January 21, 1961, Anita married the love of her life, Donald Novak of Cedar, Michigan, at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. The two met in 1958 when Anita returned to the East Coast after spending a year nursing in San Francisco. Her sister Eleanor and brother-in-law Gerald, a close friend of Donald's, introduced them over an "impromptu" dinner party.
Anita and Don began their family in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb of D.C. While raising three children, they coordinated their work schedules - Don as a home builder and Anita as a nurse doing private duty assignments in the evenings.
In 1969, the Novak family moved to Northern Michigan, Donald's childhood home. They developed land Don had previously owned on Lake Leelanau into camping and RV sites. Leelanau Pines Campground opened in July 1970. Though Anita had never camped before, she quickly embraced her new role as a business owner, retiring from nursing in 1973 to manage the campground's office operations full-time. The Novak family owned and operated Leelanau Pines-what Anita called a "labor of love" - until it was sold in December 2021.
After semi-retiring, Anita and Don split their time between their home on Lake Leelanau and DeBary, Florida. They enjoyed traveling together, visiting all 50 states, taking several cruises, and exploring Great Britain and Europe.
Although Anita cherished the natural beauty of her childhood home in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, she fell in love with the Leelanau and Grand Traverse area. She even wrote a song about the region, which her dear family and friends were fortunate to hear her sing.
Her strong sense of family, love of music, and appreciation for nature's wonder brought her joy and comfort throughout her life.
Anita is survived by her three children: Carol (Tim), David, and Linda (Nick); three grandchildren: Rhiannon, John, and Matthew; and several beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Novak; her parents, Pasquale and Mary; her brothers, Arthur and Charles; and her sisters, Philomena Tarantino, Lillian Wilson, and Eleanor Fee.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the skilled and compassionate caregivers at Independence Village, Meadow Valley, and Munson Medical Center.
The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 21st with the family greeting friends at 11:00 a.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Deacon Martin Korson will officiate.
Memorials may be directed to: Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes (Formerly JDRF) (Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes (Formerly JDRF)), 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 and/or American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202 or to a charity of your choice.
Please share condolences with Anita's family at www.martinson.info
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.