APRIL 19, 1922–AUGUST 4, 2025
With profound love, admiration, and more than a few laughs, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Maggie DeVita, who passed away peacefully at home on August 4, 2025 at the remarkable age of 103.
Maggie lived through more than a century of change—from the Great Depression to smart phones—facing each era with strength, grace, humor, and an inspiring dose of moxie. She was a pioneer in every sense: a woman ahead of her time who forged her own path with fierce determination and steadfastness.
She earned her undergraduate degree in education and later completed her master’s while raising children and teaching full-time. Over her 30+ years in special education, Maggie became a beloved guide for students with unique learning needs—offering boundless patience, creativity, and encouragement (even when her students gave her a run for her money). Her influence reached far beyond the classroom.
Outside of work, Maggie lived with remarkable energy, purpose, and a fierce commitment to living well. She was an avid cyclist who rode into her 100s—finally hanging up her helmet at age 101 when she declared the hills were no longer playing fair.
Maggie was deeply committed to a healthy lifestyle. She was a master gardener, growing and preserving her own food long before it became fashionable. She loved baking bread from scratch—grinding her own flour and perfecting each loaf with love. After her eyesight declined, she gave in to making bread with a bread machine so she could continue to share her bread with family, friends, and members of her church. This was one of her greatest joys in life.
Her creativity was unstoppable. Maggie sewed, knitted, crocheted and made jewelry, candles, soap, body lotion and toothpaste. She even taught herself to operate a knitting machine just for the challenge. She often said, “There isn’t anything I can’t do if I put my mind to it,” and she proved it daily.
Maggie gave generously—her time, talents, money, and heart—often without thinking twice. From friends, neighbors and students to total strangers in the grocery store, she always managed to make people feel like they mattered.
A devoted animal lover, Maggie was a proud pet mom to many dogs and cats over the years. Her last and most loyal companion, Precious, brought her immense joy and comfort right up to her final moments.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her family: Barbara Hunsberger, daughter; Peter Hunsberger, son-in-law; Daniel Biemesderfer, son; Gretchen Biemesderfer, daughter-in-law; Christine Lamb, daughter; David Lamb, son-in-law; Kathleen Wolff, Janice Wolff and Caroline Wolff, daughters; Stephanie Carbone, spouse Gary Carbone, and Ashley Biemesderfer, granddaughters; Rick Able, Michael Lorence and Alex Biemesderfer, spouse Tiffany Vinci, grandsons; seven great-granddaughters and by all who had the great fortune of knowing her as a teacher, neighbor or friend.
She was predeceased by Robert Biemesderfer, spouse; J. Shephard Wolff, spouse; Paul DeVita, spouse; Thomas Biemesderfer, son; Harold K. Brenner, father; Clara R. Brenner, mother; Irving H. Brenner, brother; May B. Weaver, sister, and Kenneth A. Brenner, brother.
A special thank-you to the Mathews County Volunteer Rescue Squad who have responded to Maggie and her late husband, Paul, many times over the years. In fact, three very tall and handsome men helped Maggie get to her sofa from her bedroom one last time when she was too weak to make it on her own.
Maggie showed us how to live fully, love generously, laugh often, and age with grace—with just the right touch of stubbornness. Sweet, positive, and endlessly caring, she remained so until her final breath. She will be deeply missed, joyfully remembered, and fondly talked about for years to come.
A celebration of Maggie’s life will be held on Saturday, September 20, starting at 11 a.m. at Westville Christian Church in Mathews, Virginia. A reception will follow. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society in Maggie’s honor—because she believed every creature deserved love, comfort, and a warm place to nap.