Constance S. Costa

Constance Louise Sansom was born in Cumberland, Maryland to William Raymond and Ruby Louise (Sachs) Sansom on April 10, 1941. She was born second into her original family of six children. She is proceeded in death by her beloved husband Richard J. Costa, her parents, her older brother William Raymond Sansom Jr., and her younger sister Bonnie Sue (Sansom) Faith. She is also proceeded in death by her beloved feline family members namely Callie, Josephina, Nicolina, Seraphina and Angelina. She is survived by her sisters Donna Rae (Sansom) Coblentz, Rhonda Elizabeth Sansom, and Nancy Anne Sansom-Reynolds. She is also survived by 5 nieces/nephews and 7 great-nieces/nephews. 

Constance was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a math concentration at the Frostburg College in MD (now Frostburg State University). She married Richard Costa in June 1966 and then taught most of her career as a beloved high-school math teacher in the Cranston High School West alongside her husband Richard and dear friends. Many a thank you card from former students adorned her home as a reminder of the lives she affected with her quick wit, challenging encouragement and sassy spirit. Constance was a woman of strong faith in Christ and a longtime member of Greystone Methodist Church. She even shared her own father’s sermons on occasion there. Constance was a master seamstress of clothing, quilts and other items, and also volunteered and cooked for many an event at Smith Appleby house in Smithfield, Rhode Island. She was a gifted piano player for most of her adult life and made a practice of visiting the nursing home to be company for many an elderly friend until she was unable. She enjoyed book clubs through the local library and loved to read and talk about it with others. She loved a good poker game, especially with her longtime friends the Castelli’s and Souza’s. Constance really loved sports cars, a great math riddle, Sudoku, and crossword puzzles. Her generous spirit will be remembered fondly. She will be missed.

A private service will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 1:30 pm in the chapel of St. Francis Cemetery, 163 Smithfield Ave., Pawtucket.