Kathleen A. Costa

Kathleen was brought into this world as one of 6 children of Marie and Louis Downes, an immigrant from Ireland.  Along with Maureen, Bernadette, Noreen, Eileen and Patrick, the family celebrated their close Irish roots while embracing the opportunity America offered. 

The Downes family were devout Catholics and a part of Holy Cross Parish in Flatbush Brooklyn.  It was there Kathleen met and married the parish youth minister, Dick Costa.  Eventually buying a house a few blocks away on Erasmus St., Kathleen taught 2nd grade at St. Jerome’s school.  Her teaching career ended with her embrace of motherhood.

Kathleen and Dick left Brooklyn for a new house in Sayville Long Island in 1971.  Kathleen enjoyed being a Den Mother for Cub Scouts as well as a class mother at the local elementary school.  She re-entered the work force in 1976 at a local card shop in Sayville.  She loved Sayville and would frequent the local shops just to talk.  It was in one of these shops that she met her future in-laws, Donna and Bob McGarry and their little daughter, Jennifer.  

Eventually she started a new career in banking that brought her from an Administrative Assistant to a Bank Officer.  Never far from her Catholic upbringing and practice, she began the Key Awareness Club that sought to offer assistance to local people and organizations in need. 

After her retirement from the bank, Kathleen enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren Erin, Thomas, Liam & Ricky.  She pampered them with affection and made them feel special.  She and Dick also sought to give back to their long time parish, St. Lawrence, by facilitating training for adults who work with children so that a safe atmosphere could be created.  

A life cannot be adequately summarized in words like these.  But the effect of a life can be felt in all who are reading this and/or will be at the wake and funeral.  We carry a part of each other with us and, for sure, that is a greater measure of a life.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:38)

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Marist Brothers Center in Esopus Special Camps.  The camps operate during the summer months for children and adults who have developmental disabilities as well as serving those in the deaf communities.  Both communities were particularly important to Kathleen, as well as her husband Dick.  The Marist Brother’s Center has requested you note Kathleen’s name when making a donation.  Thank you.

Visitation:  Wednesday, February 4th  4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Home 245 Montauk Hwy. West Sayville

Funeral Mass:  Thursday, February 5th  10:15 a.m at St. Lawrence RC Church 240 W. Main Street Sayville

Interment to follow: at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton

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