March 22, 1930 - July 13, 2025
Eva Costacos was a beloved wife, mother, yia yia, godmother, koumbara, thea, friend, and neighbor. Though she was a mother of three, she was a second mother to countless others, always being there to talk, listen, and offer both encouragement and compliments to everyone she knew. She loved bright colors in all things, but was also a source of bright colorful light herself.
She was born in Provo, UT on March 22, 1930, the daughter of Greek immigrant parents John and Aphrodite Tsalaky. Though it was during the Great Depression, Eva always spoke fondly about the happy childhood she had along with her parents and four brothers in a home filled with with love and warmth. "We may have been poor, but we never felt poor," she would say. Her parents' experience as Greek refugees from Turkey who had to leave their homes with only what they could carry made an indelible imprint on Eva. She thought it remarkable that they never complained about what they had gone through, saying this helped her learn to get through tough times. Her father taught her about faith through his example of quietly praying every morning and evening. Her mother was kind to everyone and told her to remember that "all people are God's children," a phrase which she often repeated to others.
Eva overcame polio as a child and considered herself blessed not to have been crippled from the disease. She loved learning and excelled in her studies, attending Provo High School and winning first place in the state debate championships. She went on to attend Brigham Young University, just a short walk from the family home, earning a degree in Political Science with a minor in Elementary Education.
Eva’s passion for learning led her to a job teaching 3rd and 4th graders in Salt Lake City. She often returned home to Provo on weekends to visit her parents, always honoring the bonds of family.
In the summer of 1953 at a Greek GOYA convention in Birmingham, Alabama, she met Jerry Costacos of Seattle. Although she later confessed she wasn't interested at first, Jerry’s persistence won her heart. They married in 1957 at Holy Trinity Church in Salt Lake City, beginning a loving partnership that would span over six decades.
The couple made their home in West Seattle, where Eva continued teaching at Arbor Heights Elementary before devoting herself full-time to raising their three children. As a homemaker and mother, Eva poured her energy and care into her family. She was active in her children's lives through the PTA, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, sports, music lessons, etc. Her home was a safe and welcoming place, not just for her own family, but for many neighborhood children who found comfort there.
An active member of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, Eva loved singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and was involved in Philoptochos and many other church ministries. She hosted nearly every new Assumption priest as guests in her home for weeks and sometimes months as the newly-arrived families looked for a place to live.
Eva loved gardening and flowers. She loved reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and sudoku. She loved spending time with her family at her summer home at Hood Canal. She loved all the arts and enjoyed attending the opera, symphony, ballet, and theater with Jerry. She loved hosting friends and strangers alike in her home, whether a small and intimate party or a big bash. Most of all she loved her family and relatives, who all rallied around her after Jerry’s passing in 2019.
Eva lived a long and full life of 95 years, 3 months, and 21 days. She had a radiant smile for everyone until the very end. She was purely content and especially grateful for the life she had.
She is survived by her brother Tony Tsalaky, children Constantine (Terry), John, and Marianne Costacos, and grandchildren Alexi and Christiana Rigopoulos.
MAY HER MEMORY BE ETERNAL
A viewing (wake) will be held from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM on Thursday July 24th at Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 1804 13th Ave. Seattle followed by Trisagion service from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
A funeral service will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Friday, July 25th at Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 1804 13th Ave. Seattle followed by a luncheon in the church hall and burial at Lakeview Cemetery
Here are the links to the live streams for Eva’s funeral on Friday:
https://assumptionseattle.org/live_broadcast.html
Link to Facebook for the live video: https://www.facebook.com/assumptionseattle
Link to YouTube for the live video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfF-WYgFvV0
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to:
Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption for Memorial/Beautification
1804 13th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122 or donate online at
https://secure.myvanco.com/L-YW7C/campaign/C-10J8N
Project Mexico and the Saint Innocent Orphanage
P.O. Box 8210 Pasadena, CA 91109-8210 or donate online at
