Elizabeth J. Agosta

Elizabeth (Betty) Juliet Agosta passed away in the early morning of January 28, 2025, at the age of 85. She is survived by her brothers, Robert (Mina), Richard (Anca), her children, Steven, Maria (Paul) Licursi and Chris (Donna), her sister-in-law Carol Filippi, sister- and brother-in-law Connie and Robert DeVivo, beloved grandchildren, Jack, Marissa, Mike, Matthew, Lainie and Julia, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Betty is predeceased by her husband Joe, brother Alan Filippi and daughter-in-law Patricia.

Betty was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 18, 1939, the eldest child of Andrew and Josephine (Josie) Filippi. She grew up in Bushwick, Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens. Her father was a master carpenter who helped build many of New York City’s skyscrapers from the 1930s through the 1970s, including the first World Trade Center, in his long and illustrious construction career. Betty’s mother Josie was raised with her four siblings by a single mother after their coal miner father died of Black Lung Disease. Betty, like her mother, was the consummate loving mother, grandmother and aunt. Her compassion and love continued the tradition of creating an incredibly close family and successive generations of wonderful, accomplished children.

Betty married the love of her life, Joe, who she met serendipitously in Manhattan on the Central Park softball fields when Joe, handsome, athletic and straight out of the Marine Corps, was playing shortstop as a ringer for McGraw Hill, Betty’s company’s team. They married in October 1963 and raised three children in Ozone Park, Queens, and New City, New York. She was fiercely proud of her Tyrolean (it’s in the Swiss / Italian Alps) heritage. Betty was deeply religious, a long-standing member of the St. Sylvester’s and St. Augustine’s Parishes. Ever the hard worker, after McGraw Hill & Co. and raising her family, Betty stayed employed her whole life, amazingly through age 80. She lost Joe in 2011 but, in her true spirit, soldiered on and enjoyed life with her many friends, family, children and grandchildren, of whom she was tremendously proud.

A great cook and ever the consummate hostess, Betty hosted hundreds of family gatherings over the years, including her famous New Year’s Eve parties in Ozone Park, Cousins’ Weekends, anniversaries, birthdays, Easters, Thanksgivings and Christmases. She was a kind and loving soul but always strong, with an amazing moral compass. She will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

A visitation for Elizabeth will be held Friday, January 31, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service Inc., 321 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. A mass will occur Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at St. Augustine's Church, 118 S Main St, New City, NY 10956.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to CurePSP (psp.org).