Sophia Kosta

Kosta, Sophia December 30, 1928 " December 6, 2011 Wife, mother of 6, grandmother to 15, supernonnie of 2, sister to 5, master gardener and avid reader, Sophia Kosta died December 6th of Heart Disease. She died peacefully at her home surrounded by many loved ones. Born in Akron Ohio on December 30, 1928, she was Sophia and Jack Yuhass first child of 6 " all girls. Throughout her life, her father was her hero and her mother her inspiration. She was an active and lively child who could read by the time she entered kindergarten in 1933 at St. Pauls Catholic School and until the day she graduated in 1946, she hated missing a day of school. She went on to Akron University where she studied for two years before she and Nick married on January 17, 1948. She was left alone with two young children when Nick was called to the Korean War. In 1951 they moved to California, eventually buying their first California home in South Gate later that year. Their next home on a small cul-de-sac in Holydale was perfect for young families like her own. Their next move was to Whittier in 1967, the same year she got her beloved Jaguar XKE and where she met her all-time best friend, Ann Ross. As empty-nesters, she and Nick moved to Huntington Harbor to be closer to their friends, with whom they travelled extensively. In 2003 Sophia and Nick moved to Fullerton, California where two of their adult children also lived and where they brought home to live with them their beloved Welsh Corgi, Zoltan. Sophia, who was known to her friends and family as Sophie, was a strong, caring and independent woman with a mind of her own. And an extremely intelligent mind it was. So much so that she was known as The Answer Woman to many friends and family who would call her from all over the country just to ask a questions, knowing Sophie would have the answer. Her favorite things were roses, the color blue, books, food, Welsh Corgis and all things British. She was kind and generous, though frugal, and never, ever, had a bad word to say about anyone (except George Bush, 46). She was a lifelong blue dog democrat . She taught her children never, ever to demean others and she herself practiced what she preached. No hypocrite was she. She also had a voice like and angel, could decorate a cake like a professional and would give you her left shoe if you said you liked it. She loved and remained close with her sisters, going on annual sisters week vacations. She was loyal and true to all those she loved. She touched so many lives and was loved by so many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sophia and Jack Yuhas. She is survived by her husband and her beloved dog, Zoltan; her children Connie Mistretta, Nikki Thompson, Christine Bianco, John Kosta, Laurie Watts, and Andrea Kosta as well as her sons-in-law Tony Mistretta, David Thompson, Gary Bianco, Ken Watts and daughter-in-law Cathy Kosta. She is also survived by all of her sisters: Connie Beltakis, Mary Ann Trifero, JoAnn Raynow, Becky Maximovich and Julie Williams; as well as all of her grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren: Dominic and Nathan Avila; Simon and Noel Thompson and Claire Sitz; Sophia, Anthony, and John Bianco; Nicholas, Michelle, Chelsea, Joe and Jack Kosta; Sarah and Jane Watts; Jacob and Miles Avila. A Rosary and viewing will be held at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary at 903 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92832 on Monday, December 12. The viewing will take place from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and the Rosary will follow at 7:00 pm. The funeral will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, December 13 at St. Juliana Falconieri Church, 1315 N. Acacia Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92831. To honor Sophias enjoyment of the holiday season and her death on the Feast of St. Nicholas, the family suggests bringing wrapped and indentified gifts for a child or teen to be distributed at the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Food and Toy Drive.