Mary Kateri Costa RSM

November 2, 1927- May 13, 2024

Mary Kateri Costa, RSM, 96, a Sister of Mercy for 78 years died peacefully at Bethany Home in Providence on May 13. Kateri, born in New Bedford, was the oldest of 11 children of David and Julia (Roderick) Costa. She is preceded in death by her siblings: Dr. David Costa, Elsie Winsper, Albert Costa, Gilbert Costa, Elaine Ferreira, Joseph Costa, Agnes Guay and Daniel Costa,

She is survived by her sisters Julie Pires and Elizabeth Martins; her sisters-in-law Patricia Costa of New Bedford (wife of Gilbert) and Yvette Costa of Acushnet (wife of Daniel), as well as many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Kateri attended St. Killian School in New Bedford and earned a scholarship to Sacred Heart Academy in Fairhaven. Upon graduation she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cumberland on September 8, 1945. She earned a degree at Catholic Teachers College in Providence, Rhode Island; a Certificate for Home Economics from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Notre Dame University in Indiana.

Katieri's over 45 years of teaching in Massachusetts and Rhode Island began in Grades 5-8 in St. John the Baptist, New Bedford and St. Louis in Fall River. Moving to high school she taught at Mount St Mary Academy, Fall River and Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro. At Holy Family High School in New Bedford she served both as principal of the high school and superior of the convent.

At St. Mary Academy Bay View in Riverside she conducted the Home Economics Program in the high school. The program received an award in a contest in which the students created a recipe using cranberries. She also started the Little People's School in the academy. At Bay View she was the superior to the house that included retired sisters and an infirmary as well as the Juniorate for sisters in formation.

Her work at Bay View prepared her for Pastoral Ministry at St. Martha's Church, East Providence. She ministered to the homebound elderly and for ten years held sessions for the bereaved and grieving. She was loved by the people to whom she brought a kindness by her visits and assistance.

On May 13, at Bethany House where she continued to be a source of kindness and companionship in her last year, she went to meet the God she had given her life to with the words of her motto: "Jesus, my way and my life."

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 20, 2024 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 343 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford, MA. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m. with a Mercy Prayer Service at 9:45 a.m. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, 559 Mt. Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA.

In place of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI, 02864. www.sistersofmercy.org. Information and condolences please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.