Joan (Reback) Costa

Nov. 2, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Joan Reback Costa was born in the home of her parents, John Reback and Harriett Kaminski Reback of South Bend, Indiana. Her parents owned and operated a local grocery store. Joan attended Saint Matthew's Elementary School. She graduated from Riley High School. Joan was the drum majorette for the marching band all of her four years at Riley. Joan then attended Cottey Junior Women's College in Missouri and Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana. 

Joan met her future husband, Joseph S. Costa, while he was a student at the University of Notre Dame. They moved to Washington, D.C., after they were married in 1950. Joan worked for the Air Force at the Pentagon and for Indiana Senator Homer E. Capehart while Joe attended the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

During their marriage the Costas were blessed with one son, Joseph S. Costa Jr. Joan maintained interest in her son's educational process by volunteering her services as room mother and by holding several offices of the PTA. She was an avid and talented tennis player during this time.

Joan returned to college after the death of her husband in 1977. She eventually earned two Associate degrees from the Northern Virginia Community College in Fairfax, Virginia. Joan then moved to Naples, Florida, where she utilized her new found knowledge by working in the hotel industry. Joan once again returned to college after a move to Richmond, Virginia, to be near her son and daughter-in-law. She received her Bachelor's degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University at the age of 67. She used this knowledge to become a substance abuse counselor for the Salvation Army.

Joan returned to her hometown of South Bend in 1999. She went to work for the University of Notre Dame as a security monitor in the Sacred Heart Basilica. She held several other security positions over the next few years until health issues caused her retirement. Joan was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2010. She fought the disease valiantly and with dignity. Unfortunately, it was a battle she did not win and succumbed to the disease this past Wednesday.

She is survived by her son, Joseph, and daughter-in-law, Sharon of Gilbertsville, PA. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, Vickie Murphy of Charlotte, N.C, Linda Zandler of Baltimore, MD, Evelyne Layton of Raleigh, NC, Joanie Williams of Yadkinville, NC, Becka Reback of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Paul Reback of North Palm Beach, FL, Jeffrey Reback of Wyoming and John Reback of Madison, WI.

Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on Monday, November 7, 2011, at the Kaniewski Funeral Home in South Bend, Indiana, where friends may visit for two hours prior to the services. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana. To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Nov. 6, 2011.

06/22/2023 EJS

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