Barbara A. (Zulla) Santagata

87, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on January 9, 2023 at Cherry Hill Manor Nursing Center in Johnston. She was the wife of the late Fred A. Santagata, Jr. and the daughter of the late Ella (Napolitano) Zulla and the late Antonio Zulla.

Born and raised in the North End of Providence Barbara attended the St. Francis Xavier Academy. She met and married her late husband soon after and moved to Seattle, Washington where he was stationed with the US Navy.

They eventually returned to Newport with the Navy and stayed in Rhode Island for the remainder of their lives. Barbara and Fred lived in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Providence for many years and later in Johnston. They were very involved with the United Commercial Travelers of America organization (UCT) making many new friends, traveling together and doing charitable work. A woman of tremendous faith and compassion, she spent most of her life lending a helping hand to those in need, family and friends alike. She was an excellent cook and baker, making cookies and treats for every occasion. She was a communicant of St Bartholomew Church in Silver Lake and later Holy Cross Church in Providence.

Pre-deceased by her dear sister and best friend, Joyce A. DeCosta, Barbara is survived by her nephew, Barry J. DeCosta of Boston, her niece Lori A. Viglone and her husband Glen of Cumberland and the late David M. DeCosta of Cranston. She also leaves David’s wife Kimberly (Castro) DeCosta and their children, Nicholas and Camille DeCosta; her great niece and nephews Colby(Major) O’Halloran, her husband Tim and their daughter, Ella of Smithfield, Corey Major of Fort Collins, CO and Christopher Viglone of Los Angeles, CA.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday January 14, 2023 at 10 am. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave. Cranston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Grace Church, Johnston at 11 am. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.

Visiting hours Saturday Morning from 9 am. to 10 am.