Lilliana DeCosta

Lilliana Francalancia DeCosta, age 68 of Manchester, NH, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26th after a brief illness.  She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, moved to East Boston and grew up in Somerville, Massachusetts. She was proud to tell people she had six brothers and sisters and there was never a dull moment sharing a bedroom with four sisters. She enjoyed playing softball, talking on the phone, and listening to records with her best lifelong friend, Kathy Popovich (Linehan). She graduated from Somerville High School where she studied business & secretarial studies. She was excited to start her first job working at the Prudential Center in Boston, MA. She was married to Michael Alan DeCosta for 25 years and settled in Methuen, Massachusetts to raise their two sons Michael and Joseph. She spent many years watching her sons play baseball and soccer and loved spending time at their pool hosting barbeques. A lover of books, travel, and the simple pleasures in life, she most enjoyed reading and journaling. She often shared stories of her trips, visiting the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. She was a bookseller at Barnes & Noble for many years and attended the Texas Massage Institute to pursue a career in massage therapy. Lilly had a big heart and always encouraged everyone to follow their dreams. 

She is survived by her son and daughter in-law, Michael and Rikki DeCosta of Bow, NH; son, Joseph DeCosta of Salem, NH; six brothers and sisters, Laura Costello of Billerica, MA; Linda Francalancia of Haverhill, MA; Tony Francalancia of Daytona Beach, Fl; Louise and Joseph Loblundo of Littleton, MA; Lola and Doug MacLeod of Litteton, MA; Pasquale Francalancia of Malden, MA; five grandchildren, Ryley, Gavyn and Graceyn DeCosta of Bow, NH; and Austin & Arieana DeCosta of Methuen, MA; and several nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mercurio and Filomena Francalancia.

Our family thanks the doctors, nurses, assistants, and entire staff at Elliot Hospital, Premier Rehab, and Hospice for the caring and compassionate treatment she received.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

Lilliana wishes to spend eternity by the sea, so her ashes will be spread at the Isle of Shoals in the Gulf of Maine. 

A private celebration of life to be held with family on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.

Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Manchester. To view Lilliana's Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.