Eva Costa

Eva Costa

1937-2021

Eva Emmanuella Mary Costa, born September 28, 1937, the third child born to Russell and Mary Costa, left this world on November 1, 2021. She spent almost her entire life in the Houston area.

As a child, Eva excelled at academics, and sports, especially softball, where she pitched for the Incarnate Word High School softball team. On December 1, 1956, Eva entered Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Convent in Houston, where she was given the name Sister Cor Mariae. She made her final vows on August 8, 1961. Although she left the convent in 1978, she maintained close ties to the sisters at Incarnate Word until the very end of her life.

Her entire career was devoted to teaching and academia. She was awarded her B.A. in Math and English from the University of Houston in 1965. Shortly after entering the convent, she started teaching "the new math" at St. Joseph's elementary school in Baytown. She was so devoted to her teaching that she held classes for parents after school so that they too could learn "the new math." From 1955 to 1967, she taught at other Catholic elementary schools in Port Arthur and Houston. She also taught advanced mathematics at the University of Houston in 1968-9. In 1970 she became the last principal of Marian High School in Bellaire; the school closed in 1978. After Marian, she taught Advanced Calculus at Bellaire High School and oversaw the International Baccalaureate program. Former Superintendent of the Houston Independent School System Kaye Stripling praised her as "one of the finest math teachers in the entire system." She taught at Bellaire through the early 2000s.

After Bellaire, she would bristle at the suggestion that she was retired. In fact, she was a full-time volunteer at Holy Ghost Church, where she ran the R.I.C.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, was active in the choir, and had numerous other responsibilities.

She is survived by her brother, Victor Costa; her sisters-in-law Jerry Ann Costa and Felicia Costa; her nephews Kevin, Mark, Kelly, and Kyle; her niece Adrienne Brown; her step-nephews Robert Young and Jerry Young; her grand-nephews Joshua and Caden; and her grand-nieces Jackie, Erin, and Mackenzie. She was predeceased by her brother Donald Costa and her niece Robin.

The family would like to thank caregiver Jackie Armstrong and her team; and the staff of Brazos Towers.

The wake will be held at the Earthman Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, 77401, on Monday, November 8, 2021, from 6 to 8 PM, with a rosary at 7 PM.

On Tuesday, November 9, the church service will be held 11 AM at Holy Ghost Church, 6921 Chetwood Drive, Houston.

The graveside service will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, 77023, on Tuesday November 9, at 2 PM.