Elsie Ines (Bassi) Costa, 88, of Soledad, passed away Wednesday, January 10, 2018. She was born September 22, 1929, in Soledad, CA, and was raised and spent the majority of her life in the Soledad Mission District. She attended Mission Union Elementary School, Gonzales High School, and San Jose State University where she received her teaching degree and minored in music.
Elsie married Anthony L. Costa, Jr., in 1955. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 25, 2015. Elsie and Tony began farming in the Soledad Mission District in 1956. They built a successful family business and were very proud of the multiple generations of their family. Very seldom did they miss a sporting or school event for any of their grandchildren.
Elsie had been very active in the community as a member of Native Daughters of the Golden West, Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church (where she played organ, piano, and sang in the choir), a Mission 4-H leader, and the La Ticinella Club. Teaching and helping people brought much joy to her life.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony L. Costa, Jr.; parents Basilio and Silvia Bassi; sisters
Emily Domingos and Ada Ricca; infant sister and brother Anna Bassi and Jimmy Bassi; brothers-in-law John Domingos, Lawrence Ricca, Manuel Costa, Richard Costa, Leonard Costa, and Richard Mattos; and sister-inlaw Josephine Costa.
She is survived by her daughters Diane Dossche, and JoAnn (Michael) Moline; sons David (Kerri) Costa, and Michael (Kim) Costa; sisters-in-law Deolinda Mattos, Delia (Fernandes) Fagundes, Adeline Costa, and Johanna Nunley; brother-in-law Bob (Evelyn) Costa; fourteen grandchildren, Peter Dossche, Megan (Lane) Meisenheimer, Patrick Dossche, Jeff Moline, Colby (Jeff) Pereira, Carissa Moline, Ryan Moline, Melissa Costa, Rachel Costa, Loretta (Nick) Toledo, Carolyn Costa, Adeline Costa, Kelly Smith, and Matt Smith; her great-grandchild Logan Toledo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2018, at Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, 36641 Fort Romie Road, Soledad, CA.
Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2018, at Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church, 235 Main Street, Soledad, CA.
Celebration of Life and mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 19, 2018, at Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church, followed by burial at the Gonzales District Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Soledad Mission Restoration, P. O. Box 515, Soledad, CA, 93960; Rancho Cielo, P. O. Box 6948, Salinas, CA, 93912; Alzheimer’s Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada, 2290 North First Street, Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95131; or to the donor’s favorite charity.
Funeral Arrangements by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home.
Online condolences to www.struveandlaporte.com
