Obituary of Idelle Norma Voris

Idelle Voris, a beloved mother, grandmother, and proud fourth-generation native of Santa Cruz, California, passed away on October 23, 2023, just a day after celebrating her remarkable 98th birthday. Idelle Norma Costella was born on October 22, 1925, in Santa Cruz, California to Norman Costella and Ida Swarthout Costella. The Costella’s, Italian immigrants from Emilia-Romagna, were a storied Santa Cruz family whose endeavors ranged from a vineyard on Graham Hill Road, a concrete construction company (the imprint can still be seen on Santa Cruz Street corners today, the Costella Chalet restaurant in Felton, to their most significant landmark, the Garibaldi Hotel (1890s-1959) in downtown Santa Cruz. Idelle embraced life's journey with grace and warmth. She was the mother of three cherished children, Richard, Susan, and Ronald. Her enduring legacy lives on through her surviving children, Susan and Ronald; her four grandchildren Jennifer, Jeffery, Cathryn, and Candace; and her great-grandchildren Ava, Elijah, Makayla, and Jackson. In 1946, Idelle married Richard James Voris at Holy Cross Church, who would go on to become an esteemed football coach in the NFL. Together, they embarked on a journey that took them to various places across the United States, including West Point, New York; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Saint Louis, Missouri; Mountain View, California; Los Angeles, California; Detroit, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; and Long Island, New York; Tampa, Florida; before retiring in Hernando Beach, Florida. After the loss of her husband, Richard, in Florida in 2008; her deep-rooted connection to her hometown led her back to Santa Cruz. She resided in Aptos, California, until her passing. Idelle was a proud alumna of Holy Cross School, where she attended from kindergarten through her high school graduation in 1944. As we bid farewell to Idelle, we remember and celebrate a life well-lived—a life marked by love, family, and the enduring bonds she leaves behind. Friends and family are invited to a Catholic Blessing Service for Idelle and Richard Voris on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Santa Cruz Memorial Mission Chapel, 1927 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz.