Marcia E. (Van Deusen) Costanza – 84, of North Reading, died Sunday, January 8, 2017, at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. She was the beloved wife of the late Ralph P. Costanza, Sr.
Born in Randolph, VT on September 24, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Jesse (Hitchcock) Van Deusen. Marcia was a graduate of South Royalton High School in Vermont and she attended the University of Vermont.
She was a floral designer for Mahoney’s in Winchester and also worked as a shoe sales clerk at Eugene’s of Reading.
Marcia has been a resident of North Reading for sixty years. She was a member of the League of Women Voters for over fifty years and served in many roles including president, mentoring new members and providing candidate’s night for every election. She was a very active member of St. Theresa’s Church. She participated in Bible Study, taught CCD and helped in many outreach programs including Christ’s Hands. Marcia was a member of the Garden Club and a Girl Scout leader. Marcia loved playing the piano, traveling and gardening. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Family members include her loving son, Ralph P. Costanza, Jr. and his wife Susan of Norfolk, MA; daughters, Karen O’Leary and her husband Daniel of Ipswich and Regina Sanfilippo and her husband Salvatore of Irvine, CA; sisters, Myra Berube of TN and Julia Van Deusen of FL; grandchildren, William, Matthew and Christopher Costanza, David and his wife Valerie and Mark and his wife Megan O’Leary, Michael and Leah Sanfilippo; great grandchildren, Mary Grace, Deirdre and Xavier O’Leary; and many nieces and nephews.
Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Saturday, January 14 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 13, from 4 to 7 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472. www.croswellfuneralhome.com
My sympathies to Ralph, Karen and Gina. We were neighbors on North Street for many years.
Marcia and I were on St. Theresa’s Parish Council together, and this began a great friendship that last many years. Marcia and I started the parish clothing drives, and she and I traveled to Bread & Roses in Lawrence with food and apples and Christmas gifts for many years. During those trips, we discussed everything from politics and religion to the blessings that our families gave to us. Ralph and Marcia also attended our yearly barbecues with Tony and Tina Cosato, Helen Bradley, and Steve and Warren Routenburg – all friends from the North Reading Senior Center that our mother, Marie Celata, attended.. Lots of great memories of Marcia, too numerous to mention. She truly was a wonderful human being, full of compassion and always ready to help others. I’m sure she has a special place in paradise where the angels met her with glowing admiration. Rest in Peace my dear friend! Barbara Celata