Diane J. Costa

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Diane J. (Knight) Costa, 81, who passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on October 30, 2025, after a short illness. She was the beloved wife of Ronald F. Costa, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage.

Born on April 4, 1944, she was the devoted daughter of the late Francis and Frances (David) Knight of Beverly. Diane was a lifelong resident of Beverly and graduated from Beverly High School in 1962. She received a Bachelor of Education and later a Master of Education in School Counseling from Salem State College. She went on to a career as both a teacher and a guidance counselor at Salem High School for over thirty years.

Diane was extremely active within her community and volunteered for many years. She was a proud member of the League of Women Voters, the Charter Commission for the City of Beverly, the Friendly Garden Club of Beverly, and was a Beverly Public Library Trustee. She was also a communicant of Saint Mary Star of the Sea Church.

Diane loved to travel, especially to Cancun, and she and Ron have wonderful memories of spending time at their home in North Conway. She was an avid reader and gardener and was happiest when spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Ron, she is survived by three sons, Mark Costa of Beverly and his companion Kelly Farias, Stephen Costa and his wife, Julie of Beverly, and David Costa and his wife Adrienne of Ipswich, seven grandchildren, Meghan, Brett, Kevin, Hannah, Sean, Michael and Camilla, her brother and sister-in-law, David and Linda Knight of Wakefield and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Sharyn Bushby of Maine.

The family would also like to thank and send along our sincere appreciation to all the nurses and staff at Beverly Hospital for the amazing care she received these past few months.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11AM on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 253 Cabot St., Beverly. The burial is private. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7PM on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Diane’s name to Friends of the Beverly Public Library, 24 Vine St, Beverly, MA, 01915. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com