Patricia Ann Costen

December 13, 1932 - December 22, 2022

Pat Costen had a life filled with love. “The nicest person I ever met in my entire life,” said one friend. What a wonderful way to be remembered.

A Tuesday's child and full of grace, Patricia Ann Piarulli was born on December 13, 1932, in Hanford, California, to her parents, Lena and Francis Piarulli. She grew up a happy child in the care of her maternal grandparents, Maria and Manuel Bettencourt, and her uncle, Mike Bettencourt. She lived with them on their dairy ranch in Hanford from 1935 to 1945. In 1945 she moved to Stockton, California, to live with her mother, Lena, and stepfather, John Owen. There she cared for and grew up with her sister Jackee and her brother Michael.

In 1950, Pat graduated from Stockton College. In the following year, she graduated from Humphreys Business College. She was then employed by Unity Mutual Life Insurance Company in Stockton, beginning her career in insurance. In 1952 she met Robert E. Costen, a handsome young man who had just been retired from the U.S. Marines due to combat injuries. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on December 28, 1952. They began their family with their daughter Laurel the following year. She was joined by her sister Teresa four years later. And to complete their family, they would add a variety of small dogs over the years to come.

With their two daughters and their Pekingese, Cha Cha, they made a home in Monterey in 1965. That same year, Pat began working for the Kent Mitchell and Monterey Insurance agencies. In 1968, they moved to Pacific Grove's Candy Cane Lane neighborhood. Pat loved Christmas and she loved decking their house out in its holiday best. Their “House of Blue Lights” with its angels and quiet reminders of the true meaning of the season, was always a favorite with the crowds at Christmas.

In 2007, Pat retired to spend more time at home with Bob, the love of her life. They were married nearly 60 years when he passed away. In the ten years following, her daughters and her longhaired, black and tan dachshund, Lucky, were glad to offer their strong support to her.

Pat was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bob in 2012; her parents Lena Owen and Francis Piarulli; her infant brother Robert Piarulli; her brother Michael Owen; and her grandparents Maria and Manuel Bettencourt. She is survived by her daughters, Laurel and Teresa Costen, of Pacific Grove, California; her sister, Jackee Owen Perry, of Midland, Texas; and a multitude of cousins, nieces, and nephews. A celebration of Pat's life will be held at a later date.