Anita LaShahn Devereaux

Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Anita LaShahn Devereaux of Hyattsville/Bowie, Maryland.  Anita was born in Washington, District of Columbia on May 20, 1973. She passed away suddenly on April 13, 2022, at the age of 48, leaving family and friends to mourn.  She leaves behind her beloved mother and father, Julianna Rheault of Bowie, MD and John Devereaux and Hyattsville, MD.  Also left are her step-father Raymond Rheault of Bowie, sisters Kathryn Rheault of Bowie, and Victoria (Megan) Munsell and niece Beau Munsell (all of Royse City, Texas); as well as numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Friends.  She was predeceased by her partner of 8 years, Douglas J. Thompson and leaves behind her partner of 2 years William Cowles and his family and her beloved best friend, Connie Stroike.

Anita was educated in her early years at Saint Anthony’s Grade School in DC, where her father was a teacher and vice-principal.  She then graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in 1990 and went on to the University of Maryland where she studied business and dance, and was in the Maryland Marching Band.  Anita attended the Independence Bowl Game with the team and band in Louisiana.  Anita worked for some years as an administrative assistant, including at Lincoln Tech and in retail after that. Anita was in her early years a spirited and fiery soul, and sustained that exuberance, with a love for animals, the ocean, shopping and fashion, music, and comedies.  Even with her severe mental illness, which she battled for decades, Anita wanted to show love and grace to friends, family, and neighbors, and hoped to make you laugh as grand as she could. "A tough one to crack," said best friend Connie, "but that was part of her charm." Charming and frustrating, pained and passionate, her vibrant spirit won't soon be forgotten. 

Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Anita LaShahn Devereaux to pay her a last tribute.

Accepting donations on behalf of Anita to the SPCA and other local animal shelters or to NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) or to St. Anthony’s Grade School.

Funeral Services will be held on May 13, 2022 at the Saint Mark’s Catholic Church 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD 20783 with a viewing from 9-10:30AM then Funeral Mass at 10:30AM followed immediately by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery on 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20906.

There will be video streaming of the Funeral Mass on May 13, 2022 by tuning to YouTube channel: Saint Marks Catholic Church Hyattsville Live Stream or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Saintmarkevangelist
 

ASPCA
P.O. Box 96929, Washington DC 20077
Tel: 1-800-628-0028
Web: https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give

NAMI Maryland - National Alliance on Mental Illness
10632 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 454, Columbia MD 21044
Web: http://www.namimd.org/donate

St. Anthony Catholic School
3400 12th Street NE, Washington, DC DC 20017
Web: http://stanthonyschooldc.org