Margaret Davitt

Margaret Devine Davitt Naples, FL

Margaret E. "Peg" Davitt, 85, of Naples, FL, formerly of Cotuit, MA, died April 2, 2012 at home after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late John Davitt for 54 years, and is survived by their ten children, 36 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

One of 11 children, she was born with a twin sister, Mary Devine, on November 12, 1926 in Dorchester, MA. The family later moved to "Arden" in Scituate, MA.

Mrs. Davitt received her degree in 1948 from Boston Teacher's College, and served as Class Treasurer. She married John H. Davitt, a Department of Justice Lawyer and WW II vet in 1950 and moved to Kensington, MD. In 1960, they moved to Chevy Chase, MD, where they raised ten children.

She was Treasurer of the Women's Club of Blessed Sacrament in Washington, DC, a volunteer at the Smithsonian Museum, and a nursery school teacher at Chevy Chase Methodist Church, where she was Director of their summer camp program.

Mrs. Davitt moved to Cotuit, MA with her husband in 1980 and became the first President of the Women's Club of Christ the King Church in Mashpee and a member of the Osterville Garden Club. She and Mr. Davitt purchased a home in Naples, FL in 1989. She was named President of the Recreation Association for Venetian Bayview in Naples.

She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, Florida and her extraordinary service was acknowledged recently by their Executive Vice President of Development, Lisa Lefkow, who wrote: "I want to express my deep gratitude on behalf of the many, many homeowners' lives that you have touched, for your years of faithful service and great gifts of time and talent."

She is perhaps best known for the many dinners and social events that she and her husband hosted at their home in Chevy Chase, MD and later at their homes in Cotuit, MA and Naples, FL.

Mrs. Davitt was a daily communicant, lector and extraordinary minister at Christ the King Church in Mashpee, MA and at St. William Church in Naples, FL.

She is survived by her brother, James Devine of Bethesda, MD; sisters, Ellen McKenney Fahey of Melrose, MA, and Mary Kennedy Peretti of Belmont, MA; five daughters, Irene Jones of Haymarket, VA, Margaret Leddy of Mamaroneck, NY, Mary Kate Bloomer of Brewster, MA, Kathleen "Casey" Bloomer of Exeter, NH, Patricia Long of Silver Spring, MD; and five sons, John Davitt of Silver Spring, MD, Michael Davitt of Silver Spring, MD, Brian Davitt of Manchester, NH, Emmet Davitt of Catonsville, MD, and Christopher Davitt of Silver Spring, MD; 36 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, April 13th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the John-Lawrence Funeral Home, 3778 Falmouth Road (Rte. 28), Marstons Mills, MA.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 14th at 11:00 a.m. in Christ the King Church, Mashpee (Rte. 151), Mashpee. Interment in Mosswood Cemetery, Cotuit, MA.

Memorial donations may be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105-3847, www.avow hospice.org, or Christ the King Parish, P.O. Box 1800, Mashpee, MA 02649.

For on line guest book please visit www.johnlawrencefuneralhome.com.