Hudson Reporter Archive

COSTA, MICHALENA

A funeral mass was held April 13 at Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church for Michalena ‘Lena’ Costa, 89. She passed away April 10. She was born in Hoboken, the middle of five children, to Rosa and Rocco Pellegrino. Lena was predeceased by her husband Philip, a daughter Joanne and a son, Gerard Rocco, her sister Elizabeth and brother, Joseph. She is survived by her sons, Fr. Gabriel Costa, Ph.D., a professor of mathematics at the USMA at West Point and at Seton Hall University and the Minister to the Priest Community of the Archdiocese of Newark, and Gerard Costa, Ph.D., the Director of the Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health at Montclair State University. She is also survived by her daughterinlaw Kellie Kennedy Costa, her grandchildren Ryann and Philip, her brothers Jack Pellegrino and Salvatore Pellegrino, her cousin Mary Mitro, friends Elodia Cafferty and Emma Cooper, and many nieces and nephews. Lena lived her 89 years with energy and humor until dementia began to take her from her family and friends. She was a talented seamstress and worked for the Ronga Coat Company for many years. She was a school crossing guard for 19 years, for the children of St. Francis Elementary School in Hoboken. Until her retirement in 1996, she worked as a statistical clerk and switchboard operator for the Hudson CETA program in Hoboken. Her passions were her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed bus trips with friends to the casinos in Atlantic City, where she usually ‘contributed.’ Services arranged by the Failla Memorial Home, Hoboken.

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