Dulce (Gomes) Costa

Dulce (Gomes) Costa, 94, of Ludlow, was called home to be with God on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Dulce was born in Tavira, Portugal on April 9, 1931; the daughter of the late Flaviano and Elvira (Dias) Gomes.

In 1966, Dulce immigrated to the United States with her husband and daughter, where she worked as a machine operator for several local companies. A skilled seamstress in Portugal, Dulce continued her passion for crocheting by making hundreds of blankets for those in need here in the U.S.

Dulce had a zest for life. She was the life of the party and could always be relied upon to have non-stop conversations about anything! Her sense of humor could be felt even through her toughest days. She had strength like no other, as she battled health issues throughout her lifetime, with a positive attitude and strong will to keep going; she never gave up. She looked forward to family gatherings, and enjoyed spending every minute with her daughter, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren, as they were her most cherished possession. She loved them more than life itself. Her passion, dedication to family, and stubbornness will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Dulce was a selfless woman who consistently put the needs of others before her own, especially her husband. Throughout her life, she found joy in helping family and friends in need—offering support without expectation of recognition, and always with humility. Even during times when she and her family had little, she extended compassion and assistance to those in need.

Dulce is survived by her husband of 70 years, Joaquim Costa, her cherished daughter Marianne Barrett, and her loving granddaughters Sylvie Casares and husband Marcos, and Valerie Messina and husband Peter. She also leaves her great grandchildren, of whom she adored immensely: Christien, Nathan, Owen, Ryan, and Kaitlyn.

She will be fondly remembered by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jose and Margarida Costa of Ludlow; her sister Lisbela and sister-in-law Olimpia of Portugal, and brother-in-law Goncalo of Ludlow, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends in the U.S., Portugal, Canada and Switzerland, with whom she shared a close bond, and her dear afternoon coffee friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Flaviano, Vitor, Fernando, and Arlette and her brother and sister in-laws João, Luis, Gloria, Bernarda and Edvige. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Murray and Liz for the compassionate care provided to Dulce over the years.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Liturgy of Christian Burial for Dulce on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Christ the King Church, Warsaw Ave, Ludlow, MA. Burial will follow at Island Pond Cemetery. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dakin Humane Society (dakinhumane.org), in honor of Dulce’s love for animals.