Sylvia Marie Costa

A daughter of Antonio and Helen Castro, Sylvia was born in Tampa, Florida on July 17, 1935. She auditioned and was accepted as a dancer in the inaugural Company of the Tampa Civic Ballet and later became a permanent member of the group. She graduated from Plant High School in Tampa. Eventually Sylvia hung up her ballet shoes to pursue a career in dentistry. She was originally a Dental Assistant and then attended the University of Alabama and graduated with a degree in Dental Hygiene. She was a dental hygienist for over 40 years, first in Tampa and then in Tallahassee. Her love for her profession led her later in her career to become an instructor at Tallahassee Community College Dental Hygiene program.

She married the love of her life, Dan M. Costa, in 1958. They lived in Tampa where they started a life together and experienced the birth of their first two sons, Mike and Dave. Together, their family of four moved to Tallahassee in 1968 and shortly after completed their family with the birth of their third son, Steve.

Baptized Catholic, she and her husband eventually became members of the Episcopal church. Dan and Sylvia were founding members of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, Florida, which has since closed. Recently she was an active member of Advent Episcopal Church. Sylvia’s love for flowers and flower arranging was evident in her creating her own business, The Petite Flower Shop. She often shared her expertise by arranging the flowers on the altar for Sunday church services at St. Francis and later at Advent.

Sylvia’s love story was cut short way too early when she was preceded in death by her husband, Dan; as well as her parents, Antonio and Helen; and her sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Bill Sams. She is survived by her three sons, Mike Costa, Dave Costa, and Steve Costa (Kristen); her precious grandchildren, Nick, Amanda, Devin, Dylan, and Kelly Claire; as well as her Aunt Edna; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

The funeral service will be at Advent Episcopal Church on June 10, 2025, at 11:00am with a short reception to follow. The interment will be private with the family at MeadowWood Memorial Park on Timberlane Road. Since Sylvia always looked for an opportunity to assist anyone in need, whether in a donation to an organization, or a generous tip to those who provided a service, in lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to Advent Episcopal Church Flower Fund or Big Bend Hospice.