Elizabeth Emily Costa, “Beth”, was born in New York, New York, on December 31, 1955, and passed away on March 17, 2023, at home with her family at her side following a valiant battle with cancer.
After her birth, she and her family moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later to Walnut Creek, California. She attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, earning her undergraduate degree and then continued her education at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Washington, where she earned her master’s degree.
While attending WSU, she met her late husband of 38 years, Robert “Bob” Mahoney. She and Bob married in 1981 and relocated to their beautiful home in Beaverton, Oregon. Though she faced the profound loss of her beloved husband, Bob, she continued to cultivate joy in the world around her.
Beth spent 30 years working at Nike, a large part of her life and where she met many of her closest friends.
Beth and Bob had many faithful “furry" companions over the years: Woody, Remmy, Jake, Nadia, Maisy, Gibbs, and Stella, who were the loves of their lives.
Though her life was far too short, Beth leaves a legacy of warmth and creativity. Beth took joy in photography, cooking, collecting stamps, journals and cookbooks, snow globes, art prints, crocheting, travel, knitting, and working in the beautiful gardens she took much pride in. Beth loved nothing better than an early evening eating her favorite Thai food, eating a pack of Chuckles candy, and watching The Office or Modern Family.
Beth was preceded in death by her husband Robert “Bob” Mahoney, her mother Elizabeth “Betsy” Elliott Costa, her father Thomas “Tom” Peter Costa, and her grandmothers Elizabeth “Bess” Nicholls, M.D., and Emily Costa.
She is survived by her sister Susan C. Smith and her spouse Anderson Smith, her sister Margaret L. Costa “Meg’, her niece Elizabeth A. Newton and her spouse Christopher Newton, her nephew Christohper A. Smith and her nephew Chadbourne “Chad” T. Smith and his spouse Justine A. Fehr, her great nephew Alexander M. Smith and great niece Cadence A. Smith, many longtime friends and her faithful, loyal and loving pet companions Maisy and Gibbs.
Please consider donating to the A.S. P. C. A. or the Oregon Humane Society, Beth’s favorite charities. All her pets were rescued from shelters.
May her memory be an enduring blessing to all who knew and loved her.
