NIANTIC, CT - Just as she marched as a majorette down School Street and carried the statue of Blessed Mary ahead of the parade bound for St. Anthony's Church, Marie Vincent Costa passed away on March 3, 2015 and smiled her distinctly beautiful smile at what now lays ahead.
Born on August 13, 1927, Marie grew up in Taunton, Mass., eldest child of Joseph and Hilda Vincent, and sister to Joseph T. Vincent and Richard Vincent and sister-in-law Delores Vincent of Taunton.
She will be remembered with love and admiration by her family and the many close friends she made throughout her lifetime, including Mary Minerva Tinto of St. Augustine, Florida, her lifelong dearest friend and confidant, and the "daily Mass ladies" of St. John's parish in Old Saybrook, CT.
She will also long be remembered for her amazing pies at family gatherings and for that steadfast commitment to “straightening up” the church after Mass at St. John's.
After earning her Master’s in Education from Bridgewater State Teachers College, she married Antone Robert Costa of Dighton, and headed across the country for the next 25 years, making sure that her Air Force family always experienced the comforts and security of home, even when home meant growing up in 9 different states.
She will be fondly remembered as a teacher and as a mother to son David Costa and daughter-in-law Barbara Costa of Niantic, Ct., to daughter Kathryn Higbee and son-in-law James Higbee of Baltimore, Maryland, to son Dr. Michael Costa of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and to son Tony Costa and daughter-in-law Melissa Costa of Silver Spring Md.
She will look back most devotedly at her grandchildren Amanda Costa, Danielle Costa, Joanna Higbee, Elizabeth Higbee, Richard Costa, David Costa, Emily Costa, and great granddaughter Raleigh Loring.
For her grandchildren she lovingly filled a large green cookie tin with endless batches of cookies, which surely will never be matched in taste.
She was always the last to sit down to eat at the table as she tirelessly prepared the meals of many family get-togethers.
Her grandchildren say that they will never forget the many fun outings at the Ivoryton Playhouse, the m&m’s, the times she would warm their cold noses with fuzzy 1970's door knob covers, and “we would have never known the impact a red sweater could have on the rest of our lives. Thank you for being the most perfect Grandma.”
Her funeral will be held from the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway at St. Mary’s Square Taunton, on Saturday, March 7th at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at St. Anthony Church Taunton at 11 a.m.
The family will be receiving visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., prior to the funeral mass.
Burial will be St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Marie's honor to the Alzheimer's Association, Village Plaza South, 473 South St. Unit 13 Raynham, MA 02767.
Funeral home website: www.silvafuneralhome.com