Lois F. Costa, age 83, passed into God's kingdom on September 30th, 2015 after a brief illness. A resident of Santa Cruz County for nearly 30 years, she previously lived in the Morgan Hill and Gilroy areas where she raised her six children. Shortly after the children were grown, the ocean she loved was too much to resist and she moved to the coast. Besides the beach, her other passions included animals (especially dogs) and animal causes; watching game shows, the pursuit of chocolate, twinkly lights, maintaining her independence, and following the achievements of her children and grandchildren.

Born in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Martha Gorski, Lois moved to California's East Bay while still quite young. She developed an interest in accounting and became a bookkeeper- a career that spanned 60 years. She retired at age 78 from Monterey Bay Business Advisors in Aptos. Even up until her last hospital stay, she retained a knack for mental record keeping; and no one could tally up numbers faster in their head than she could!

Lois is survived by daughters Michelle Costa (Jeff Rodriguez) of Cambria, and Kim Costa (Don Baze) of Kelseyville; son Kevin Costa of San Martin, grandchildren Brandi Barnes (Dustin), Vanessa Pena, Jenelle Costa, Natalie Rodriguez and Justin Gessler, as well as four great-grandchildren, and dear friends and neighbors. She was preceded in death by daughters Valerie Costa and Dena Gorski, son David Gorski and granddaughter Jasmine Costa.

A graveside service is scheduled for Saturday, Oct 17th, 10:45 am at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Morgan Hill. In honor of Lois, please consider completing an Advance Directive and discussing your wishes with your family. Wearing purple or blue on occasion would also make her smile. Charitable donations can be made to the Humane Society of the United States (humanesociety.org), Resurrection Catholic Church, Aptos (Homebound Communion Program), or to Dominican Hospital Foundation, Santa Cruz (memo line: chaplaincy program).

The family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers of Dominican Hospital's Critical Care Unit for their compassionate care of our mother and grandmother during her stay there, and also many thanks to Resurrection Church's Lay Eucharistic Ministers for their spiritual care of Lois during her final 3 years. Many thanks to Lois' caregivers who assisted her most of the past 2 years so she could remain in her own home, Captain of her own ship, and Queen of her own castle.