Who We Are
Why DeVito?
In addition to traditional funerals, many families now look for individually tailored services that meet their needs. DeVito is proud in our ability to meet with our families, listen to our families and then work with them to tailor a service exactly to suit the needs and budget of their family.
The DeVito Family has been involved in funeral service since our official founding in 1928, which now is four generations of serving our community. We say funeral “service” because we truly believe we are serving our client families and not simply performing a funeral or cremation. Each funeral director and staff member takes great pride in helping our families and all of the visitors of our facilities as members of our family. It is important that we maintain a high level of professionalism, while also guiding our families through one of the most challenging times in their lives. There is no greater level of trust than when a family places their loved one into our care.
Most importantly we do not take this sacred trust lightly. We are grateful for the generations of families that have entrusted their loved ones to our family.
Our Promise
Meet the Team
Our dedicated and supportive staff are here to guide you through this difficult journey. We take pride in doing our absolute best to ensure your needs are met. We are here for you.
Alfred M. DeVito Jr.
Alfred grew up in Arlington and graduated from Arlington High School in 1973. He is a 1977 Cum Laude graduate of the New England Institute of Mortuary Science in Boston. He has been an active member of the Arlington and Watertown communities for over 30 years and is a member of the Touchdown Club of Arlington, and enjoys membership in numerous community organizations and social groups. Alfred has three children; Lauren, Heather and Jonathan and resides in Arlington.
John F. DeVito
John graduated Summa Cum Laude from new England Institute of Mortuary Science in 1982, and received his funeral directors license shortly thereafter. John is an active member of The Touchdown Club of Arlington, The Boys and Girls Club of Arlington and many other numerous community organizations. John resides in Watertown with his wife Carole, and has three children; John Jr., Whitney and Kelly.
John F. DeVito Jr.
John Jr. was raised in Arlington and attended the Arlington Public School Systems. He graduated from Middlesex Community College with a degree in Criminal Justice and is a 2010 graduate of the New England Institute of Mortuary Science in Newton, MA. On January 10, 2012 John Jr. was sworn in as a Licensed Funeral Director, by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. John Jr. now resides in Arlington with his wife Laura and three children Nolan, Riley and Joshua.
Jonathan A. DeVito
Jonathan currently resides in Arlington with his wife May and two sons; Caleb and Kyle. Jonathan was raised in Arlington and graduated from Arizona State University in 2008 with a bachelors of interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in Business and Social Inquiry. Jonathan is a 2011 graduate of New England Institute of Mortuary Science in Newton, MA. On December 18, 2012 Jonathan was sworn in as a Licensed Funeral Director, by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. Jonathan was named as a corporator of the Arlington Boys and Girls Club in 2011 and continues to assist the club with fundraising efforts and special events. In October of 2017 Jonathan was elected to the board of directors at The Children’s Room; a local non-profit that provides support to children, teens and families grieving the loss of a loved one.
Our History
The DeVito Family entered the funeral business on May 1, 1928 at its original East Cambridge, MA location. The founder, Alexander DeVito, immigrated from Tufo, Avellino, Italy in 1912. He soon found himself enlisting in the US Army and was assigned to the Army Medical Corp during WWI. In 1918, Alexander worked at the Fort Devens General Hospital assisting during the ‘Influenza outbreak’. His experience assisting local area ‘undertakers’ led to his full-fledged occupation, and his new business enterprise: The DeVito Funeral Service.
In 1930, the DeVito Funeral Service became one of the first to establish a funeral home facility in the Greater Boston area. Mr. DeVito purchased the Hurley Estate at 392 Cambridge Street, East Cambridge, MA. After their service in WWII, sons Edward and Alfred DeVito joined their father’s establishment. Soon thereafter, the DeVito family expanded their operations to Watertown, MA., at 761 Mt. Auburn Street, the second funeral home was started. In 1960, a large addition transformed the building into one of the largest funeral homes in Greater Boston. A recent addition to the home has created a much needed handicap-accessible entrance.
The addition of a third generation of funeral professionals, Alfred M. DeVito, Jr. and John F. DeVito resulted in the expansion of the firm to Arlington, MA. In 1983, the Fessenden Home site at 1145 Mass. Ave. was purchased and renovated. Arlington and contiguous towns quickly learned that the DeVito family had much to offer. The funeral home has been fully refurbished and additional space was added in 2001 to accommodate the families served by the DeVito Funeral Home. In 2011 both the Arlington and Watertown buildings were refurbished with new carpet and furniture to maintain our comfortable and modern appearance.
Both John and Jonathan, the fourth generation of DeVito’s to enter the business were licensed as funeral directors in 2011. The DeVito Funeral Homes are proud to say that they are still a family owned and operated business.
On July 1, 2009 the DeVito Family was entrusted with the funeral business of the Saville and Grannan Funeral Home and Cremation Service. The heritage of the Saville, Grannan and Walkinshaw families continues at DeVito Funeral Home of Arlington.
Our Facilities
DeVito and each member of our Funeral Home team works hard to make our Funeral Home as welcoming and inviting as possible for our client families. We take great pride in both of our locations and strive to maintain each property in an impeccable manner so that we can serve each family that entrusts us with caring for their loved one. We are constantly making improvements to our facilities to better serve our families and community members.
