Our great pro-life Catholic Christian leader for so many years. No one was more faithful then Liz. how many years did she picket the Dobbs Ferry abortion mill? And lead in the political movement? And always with a charitable and generous spirit.
Eulogy, obituary, and arrangements are here -
ELIZABETH COSTANZO EULOGY
My mother was a woman of great faith, love & conviction. She was devoted to her Catholic Church and lived by the letter of its law. She was deeply committed to the protection of the rights of the unborn and fought tirelessly on their behalf. She was the daughter of Italian immigrants and her life was centered around her family. She loved my father, Jimmy, Paula and I and her seven grandchildren with all her heart.
Given that many of my cousins are here today I thought I’d share her most persistent memories of their parents, her siblings. Her brother Joe flew over fifty missions in WWII and her mother had a great devotion to St. Michael because Joe flew his last successful mission on St. Michael’s feast day – and on a side note, that is one of the reasons my son’s name is Michael Joseph. Mario was so smart, he taught her many things and he was the one who taught her about her faith. Bobby insisted he saw the stork deliver her the day she was born. Bobby was so handsome and she had many girlfriends because they just wanted to come home and see her brother – this of course was before meeting his wife, Rose. My Mom would also talk of Bobby’s love and devotion to his wife. She recounted writing play by play descriptions of the Yankee’s games to her three older brothers when they were away in the war. Her sister Rose’s story was how their mother would wave a handkerchief out the window on days their father was home so Rose could wipe her lipstick off before she entered the house. How Rose lit the mail box on fire when a bad report card was amongst its contents. Whenever I showed my Mom a picture of my Aunt Rose and Uncle Stelio I could palpably feel her great love for them and her great sadness at their passing, for these two very special and important people in her life.
When I think of my mother I will think of a woman who got her Masters in math in the early 1950’s. A woman who marched on Washington, picketed outside Planned Parenthood, held Right to Life Coalition meetings in her basement, led educational programs at schools about the unborn, had a crisis hotline in her home that women facing an unwanted pregnancy could call twenty four hours a day to get immediate help.
I will think of a woman of great love, great faith, great conviction, a woman I am proud and blessed to have had as my mother.
Your daughter, Elizabeth Colbert
Obituary
Elizabeth Anello Costanzo, formerly of Hastings-on-Hudson passed away on August 16, 2019 at the age of 87. Born in the Bronx on March 10, 1932 to the late Anthony and Rose Anello. On July 3, 1954 she married Anthony Costanzo at Immaculate Conception Church in the Bronx. In 1962 they moved to Hastings-on-Hudson and became parishioners of St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church in Hastings. Locally Elizabeth was a high school math teacher and was devoted to the Right to Life effort in New York and was Chairman of the Right to Life Coalition of Lower Westchester County and was recognized with lifetime achievement awards for her efforts. Survivors include her children; James of Altamont Springs, FL, Elizabeth Colbert of Tiverton, RI, Paula Tullo of Hopewell Jct., NY as well as seven grandchildren whom she adored. Contributions in her memory may be made to Birthright Peekskill, 826 South Street, Peekskill, NY 10566 or Westchester Right to Life Party, PO Box 263, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 c/o Maura Reilly
Liz's Wake will be TOMORROW Friday August 23rd at Edwards Funeral Home in Dobbs Ferry from 4-8 PM and her Funeral Mass will be celebrated THIS Saturday August 24th at Saint Matthew's Church in Hastings, NY, at 10:00AM.