Bernadette "Bobbi" Costa

Bernadette “Bobbi” Costa, age 88, of Cedar Lake, IN, formerly of Hammond, IN, passed away suddenly on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

Bobbi was born on February 18, 1938, in Hammond.  She was a 1956 graduate of Bishop Noll Institute and attended Calumet College of St. Joseph, then located in East Chicago.  In 1959, Bobbi married the love of her life, Louis Costa, and for the next 59 years built a wonderful life and family together. After Lou passed away in 2018, Bobbi’s light was a little less bright, but she still lived life large and was a “force” to be reckoned with for another eight years.

Bobbi always said she learned something positive from every job she held and that it was her broad field of experience that lead to her successes.  Her private sector experiences included retail, credit and collection manager and law office management. Her public sector experience began in the 1980s as she first served as the Hammond City Court Administrator and later as the Chief Deputy at the North Township Trustees Office. Always active in her beloved city of Hammond, it was on a particular day in 1991, when she could not get a response from City Hall on an issue, that she decided to run for office.  She was the second female elected to the Hammond City Council and the first female to serve as the Council President.   She also served as the President of the Hammond Parks Foundation and the Chairperson of the Hammond Port Authority.  She later went on to serve Hammond as their elected representative on the Lake County Council.  She was a dedicated public servant who was honest and conscientious in her representation of her constituents.

Bobbi set an example for her children and grandchildren on the importance of being a volunteer for fifty plus years of her life.  She was very active for over 46 years in the General Federation of Women’s Club, at one point serving as the Lake County Junior President and serving for a year as the Direct Assistant to the International President. Bobbi served on the Board of Directors for Haven House for over 40 years and personally assisted women who had been victims of domestic violence. Over the years in her “spare time” Bobbi served on the United Way Allocations Committee, Vice President of Tri City Women’s Auxiliary, President of the Hammond Women’s Jackson Club, and longtime member of  Hammond FDR Club, the Robertsdale Women’s Democratic Club   and The Hessville Democratic Club.  In 1997, the Hammond Times named Bobbi “One of the Women of Power and Influence” and in 1999 was the recipient of the Legacy Foundation Award. 

Much to the dismay of the rest of her family, Bobbi was a huge Green Bay Packer fan.  Football Sundays were always chippy as she wore all her Packer gear in a house with all Bear fans.  Her other hobbies included many a poker game, “sailing” on Sundays and traveling with her many friends and family.  Bobbi had a quick wit and always seemed to charm strangers in almost any setting. She had a unique ability to relate to people of all ages and later in life became “Busia Bobbi” to many.  She was one of a kind and will be sorely missed, but those who are left behind take comfort in the very full life that she lived. 

Bobbi is survived by her four children; Kris (James) Sakelaris, Kyle (late Therese) Costa, Kelli (John) Lucito and Kara (Tim) Meyer; six grandchildren; Matthew Costa, Michael (Danielle) Costa, Bernadette “BK” Sakelaris, Dominic Lucito, Madison Meyer and Jack Meyer; brother Wallace “Randy” (Judith) Peters, Jr; nephews Gregory Peters and Anthony Costa; nieces Phyllis Fleming and Deneen Costa.  Preceded in death by her brother, Malcolm Peters and her parents Wallace and Alida Peters.

Per Bobbi’s wishes, the funeral will be private, but she left specific instructions about the party she wanted to celebrate her life and her reunification with her beloved Louie.  Bring your favorite memory of Bobbi to her Celebration of Life Party on Friday, September 11, 2026, at The Emerald Green at the Lost Marsh Golf Course, 1001 - 129th Street, Hammond from 5:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Haven House in Bobbi’s memory.

To send an online condolence, logon to: www.fifefuneralhome.com

Tel: 219-398-3210

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