Michelle M. Costira

Michelle Marie (Frenier) Costira, 77, wife of Joseph D. Costira of Douglassville, PA passed away peacefully on October 29, 2023, at Sanatoga Center, Pottstown, surrounded by her loving family after a stroke she suffered December 5^th 2022. She was born on September 26, 1946 in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Thomas W. and Dorothy M. (Ritter) Frenier. Her early years were spent with her family in Philadelphia before moving to Phoenixville, PA. She attended 12 years of Catholic school, first at St. Ann Roman Catholic School, Phoenixville and then Bishop Kenrick High School, Norristown.  She lived her entire life upholding the values instilled in her through her Catholic education.

Michelle was a member of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, Phoenixville; Sacred Heart Church, Royersford and then St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church in Stowe, PA.

Michelle (Shelly) worked at John Hancock Insurance and BF Goodrich before settling into the finance industry working as a bank teller at First Fidelity Bank and National Penn Bank, lastly as an admin for Joe St. Pedro & Associates.  It was on her backroad drives to work that she often passed a handsome stranger in a Corvette convertible.  As fate would have it, she was introduced to him by a mutual friend at the Dairy Mart in Phoenixville.  It was on that day, she met her future husband, Joseph Costira.  Joe and Michelle married on April 27, 1968.  They raised their family in Phoenixville and Royersford until their final move into Douglass Village, Douglassville.  They enjoyed a new life of retirement and community with wonderful neighbors who became their closest friends.

In Michelle’s early years, she was an avid bowler (often beating the men), enjoyed ice skating, and sewing (making outfits for herself and her kids).  She loved playing pinochle and taking dance lessons.  She was blessed with the opportunity to be a stay-at-home Mom for 16 years, raising her 3 children.  Michelle was the quintessential June Cleaver.  She loved her role as wife, Mom, and caretaker of the home.  Her favorite hobby was following her children through their activities and sports, always being their biggest fan.  Michelle was a green thumb gardener, planting and maintaining her flowers outside and her plants inside. 

Michelle spent her early summers on the beach in Ocean City, NJ.  She was a lifelong lover of sunshine, sand and shore; vacationing in Ocean City every summer.  It was the only vacation spot she ever wanted to travel to. Michelle and Joe even purchased a surrey to pedal throughout their neighborhood.

When grandchildren came along, Michelle hosted sleepovers and playdates, routinely played boards games, colored and did hair makeovers.  Along with Joe, Michelle loved hosting Summer Fun Fridays filled with grandchildren in matching tshirts, pizza and swimming.

And to her children’s friends, she was always referred to and will be remembered as Mrs. C. and Mom Costira.  She was everyone’s second Mom!

Michelle spent the last 30 years fighting chronic pain from injuries, illnesses, surgeries and diseases.  She spent her final months at Sanatoga Center, receiving care/treatments and battling like a warrior.

In addition to her loving and devoted husband, Michelle is survived by son, Joe, husband of Terry Costira; daughter, Kimberly, wife of Michael Gleason; and son, Brian Costira and girlfriend Michelle Cecere.  She was beloved “MiMi” to granddaughters, Brianna Costira, fiancé of Matt Harp; Jessica Costira, fiancé of Brode Tharp; Sabrina Gleason; and Avery Gleason and grandson, Shane Gleason.  Her siblings, Thomas Frenier, husband of the late Connie Frenier and sister, Deborah Strogus, wife of Joseph Strogus.  She will be dearly missed by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to share their love, stories, friendship and support with Michelle’s family during her viewing being held at Devlin-Gatcha Funeral Home, 517 South Main Street, Phoenixville, PA on Sunday November 5, 2023 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

A viewing will also be held on Monday, November 6, 2023 in St. Ann Chapel, 604 South Main Street, Phoenixville, PA from 9:45 am to 10:45 pm.  A Catholic Funeral Mass will immediately follow at the Chapel at 11:00 am.

Burial will follow at St. Ann Cemetery, 305 West Pothouse Road, Phoenixville, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at www.komen.org.