Obituary of Grace E. Costa
Grace E. Costa
Olean, NY Grace E. Costa, 84, formerly of Coventry, Rhode Island, and a resident of Olean since 2006, passed away Friday (December 6, 2019) at The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Olean.
Born January 19, 1935 in Providence, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of Albert E. and Grace I Smith Bicknell. On November 14, 1952 in Providence, RI she married Joseph S. Costa who predeceased her in 1998.
Grace attended Central High School in Providence. In 1966 she and her husband moved to Coventry, RI and she resided there until moving to Olean in 2006 to live closer to her son. She was a homemaker most of her life and entered the workforce after her children were raised. She began working at Star City Class in Coventry, and later worked for Bryant College in Smithfield, RI. It was there that she worked as a cook that included preparing the food for the New England Patriots during their summer training camps.
She was a member of the Knotty Oak PTA, the Coventry Senior Citizens, and was a lifelong member of the Salvation Army Providence Citadel. She attended the Olean Salvation Army until her health declined. In Olean, she volunteered at the Linwood Center for 12 years.
She is survived by a son, Ted (Dianne) Costa of Allegany; a daughter Jo-Ann (Jim) Costanzo of Coventry; 5 grandchildren, Joseph Gosselin of Coventry, Kate (Larry) Jarbeau of West Warwick, RI, Shaun Costa of Allegany, Shane Costa, Esq., of Buffalo and Brad (Sara Jackowski) Costa of Mebane, NC; 4 great grandchildren, including Madelyn Price-Costa of Allegany; 1 great-great grandchild; 1 sister Barbara Barnickle of Pen Argyl, PA and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1998; 2 daughters Deborah Dessaint in 2004 and Cheryl Costa in 2006; a son Joseph E. Costa in 2015; 2 sisters Edith Moquin and Emily Eaton and 5 brothers Albert Bicknell, Raymond Bicknell, Hartley Bicknell, George Bicknell and Everett Bicknell.
The family will be present to receive friends on Tuesday (December 10, 2019) from 3-6pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 Route 417W, Olean. A funeral service will begin at 6pm in the funeral home.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Allegany-Limestone Sports Boosters Club, 3131 Five Mile Road, Allegany, NY 14706.
Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.