Obituary of E. Elsie Costa

E. Elsie Costa, daughter of Gladys (Blackeney) Barchard and Louis Barchard, born in Medford and raised in Burlington passed away after a long battle with cancer on Friday night, June 14, 2013. She was 86 years old. She had worked for 25 years for the Burlington School Department as a cafeteria lady and retired as the assistant manager of the Marshall Simonds Middle School cafeteria. Her family lived in a home located on the Cummings Farm, which was on the Burlington/Woburn line. After her schooling, her family moved to Medford and then Somerville. She was a State Roller Skating Champion as a teenager. She would meet her future husband while he was on leave from the service during World War II. She rebuffed his first advances, but after the war, they were reconnected by her brother. After 5 dates, Edmund asked her to marry him and she said yes. They were married on April 6, 1947 and shared 66 years together as husband and wife. She had her own interests, but also embraced Edmund’s as well. Since he was a WW II Submarine Navy Veteran and active in the Sub Vets, she became a member of the Sub Vets Wives organization and attended numerous submariner conventions around the country. Elsie was a person who loved sharing her talents and supporting local charities. She crocheted and knitted, sharing her crafts at charity bazaars, People Helping People, and donating afghans for seniors in need. She made hats and blankets for premature babies born at local hospitals. She was a member of the Hockey Boosters and the first Burlington High School Booster Club. She enjoyed volunteering and participating in many of the activities and events at the Burlington Council on Aging. She enjoyed a good game of Bridge or Poker at the BCOA. Her favorite holiday was Christmas. She enjoyed traveling with her husband during their retirement years, taking several cruises and visiting many of the National Parks in the United States. Elsie was the wife of Edmund Costa. She was the loving mother of Susan Kelly of Billerica, Brett Costa and his wife Lynne of Kittery Point, ME, and the late Brian Costa. She was the mother-in-law of the late Brian Kelly. She was the sister of Robert Barchard of Woburn and the late Louis Barchard and sister-in-law of Marion Barchard of Wilmington. She was the proud grandmother of Michael Kelly of Billerica, Lisa Costa of Manchester, NH and great-grandmother of Noah Fontanez and Aliyah Rose Mojica. Elsie was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Tuesday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, 796 Boston Road, Billerica at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours Monday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Elsie’s name may be made to the Burlington Council on Aging, 61 Center St., Burlington, MA 01803. For directions, obituary & online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net or www.stmarybillerica.com