Anita Levinbook

It was tough to catch a glimpse of the blur that was Anita: she was a woman on the go, always out with her friends shopping (either the Christmas Tree Shop or dollar store) or dining. And she worked her whole life through; nearly every job imaginable from bus aid to selling her homemade crafts. As a mom she was strict; especially when it came to boys, but it was only because she wanted to raise quality girls. Of course they also knew her fun side; she’d call them out of school to go to the Columbus Mart. If she had her apron on she meant business: Anita made the best homemade pizza (probably because she knew how to toss pizza dough from the days of her youth in her family’s pizzeria) and her meatballs made vegetarians cheat. But her life long calling was to be a grandmother, doing everything from passing on her cooking secrets to listening to karaoke on cruises. Free time found her heading off to their shore home in Dennisville. She was active in the Delran School District even in the years after her daughters had graduated.

She was always on the lookout for a bag of 20 dollar bills and handsome dancing men. Anita never found the bag, but she did meet a handsome guy after a family wedding. Anita and Allan soon wed. Their 54 year marriage was blessed by daughters, Laura (Robert) Bush, Debra (Edward) Chmiel and Leah (James) Gunning; and later by grandchildren, Steven, Megan, Alexis, Jonathon, Aiden, Alyssa and Ashton. Anita is survived by her siblings, Benjamin (Kathi) Ciavarella and Deborah Besancon and many nieces and nephews.

Come celebrate 78 great years Wednesday 10 a.m. till noon at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside where there will be a noon service. In lieu of flowers donations to the American Diabetes Foundation (Diabetes.org) will be appreciated.