Vita R. Stevens

Vita R. Stevens, of Glen Mills, PA passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Vita was the wife of the late Walter A. Stevens, Jr.

Born August 26, 1927 in Union City, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Gaetano Salvo and the late Margaret Raviolo Salvo.

Vita grew up in North Bergen, NJ and graduated from Union Hill High School with honors and was crowned “Class Smoothy” in her high school year book. Sparked by her interest in fashion, her early years after high school were spent working in the fashion district in New York City meeting with buyers from across the country. From there she moved to a secretarial position in the RCA building at Rockefeller Center. She truly loved working and socializing in NYC!

She soon married her beloved “Buddy” and raised their three children in Hillsdale, New Jersey. During this time, she was not only a homemaker but also held various employment positions and was always a vibrant presence at all school, club and sporting events. As evidence that she never missed any of the games, one day as she sat all alone in the bleachers of an away JV high school girls basketball game, the coach commented “we can get started now, Mrs. Stevens is here!” She eventually helped manage the CB Snyder Real Estate which she and Walter had purchased and turned into a very successful business venture.

Vita was a member of St. John The Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Hillsdale, NJ. She loved playing tennis, bridge and golf and also enjoyed skiing and sailing.

She is survived by her son, Richard Stevens (Ileana) and daughter, Lauren Dambly (Mark), and son in law, David Van Der Beek; 6 grandchildren, David (Katie), Daniel (Trish), Adam, Sera (Petey), Christian (Anna) and Julia (Victor); 10 great-grandchildren, Nora, JoJo, Leo, Mason, Blake, Riley, David, Andrew, Desmond and Wesley; and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Karen Van Der Beek (David) and her two brothers, Thomas Salvo (Anne) and Ronald Salvo (Dorothy).

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Vita’s Memorial Service on Friday February 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM at the Maris Grove Chapel, 200 Maris Grove Way, Glen Mills, PA 19342. 

Graveside Service will be on Saturday February 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM at George Washington Memorial Park, 234 Paramus Road, Paramus, NJ 07653. 

lieu of flowers, contributions are graciously welcomed to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 or t2t.org

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home of West Chester, PA 610.696.1181 DellaFH.com