Amanda Ribeiro Costa

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Amanda Ribeiro Costa, who courageously fought a ten-month battle against a relentless cancer (Renal Medullary Carcinoma). Amanda, aged 20, is leaving behind a legacy of strength, faith, and inspiration. Born on 04/29/2003, Amanda was a shining light from the very beginning. Her unwavering spirit, infectious laughter, and compassionate heart touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. Raised in a close-knit Christian family, Amanda embraced her faith and lived by its principles, radiating love and kindness in every interaction.

She spent her childhood growing up in Marlborough MA. She was always surrounded by family. She shared a close bond with all of her cousins, throughout life, no matter how far or near she was to them. At a young age, she enjoyed dance classes, having sleepovers at her house, going on motorcycle rides and hiking with her dad, and going to Sunday school. She became a big sister, at six years old, to her loving brother Luciano, to whom she became Dádê. She was his best friend, his fun and protective mentor, and teasingly called him Lucianderson, the name of a cousin who sounds just like Luciano. In fact, Amanda loved to play with names, her dog Zolla she affectionately nicknamed “Franga, Frangura,” which means chicken.  At eight years old, her family moved to Brazil. There she met her childhood friends aka, “The Girls,” who remain her friends today. She enjoyed endless hours playing outside in the neighborhood. Her family took trips to waterfalls, visits to grandparents' houses, and vacations to the beach.

She moved back to Massachusetts at thirteen years old and attended Bellingham High School and Norfolk County Agricultural High School, where she graduated in 2021. She loved studying animals and even worked part-time at a veterinarian clinic. She became active in the Connect Church community, where she attended church, and Connect Youth, where she met more lifetime friends.  After graduating high school, Amanda attended Gordon College in Wenham, MA. It’s no surprise that her infectious joy and warmth attracted a solid community of friends who would become her people for the remainder of her time at Gordon. Whether dancing to Shakira, going on road trips, or singing her heart out at concerts, Amanda was always the life of the party. Her friends are forever grateful to say that their favorite college memories - the ones they will tell their kids about one day - all involve Amanda. She was the most incredible friend, before and during her sickness, and was someone you could always count on to be there when you needed her. The impact she left on her friends was enough to last a hundred lifetimes.

Amanda studied psychology and social welfare and wanted to spend the rest of her life serving others. She accomplished this by becoming a youth leader at Connect, where she served as a mentor. She also had a chance to fulfill her dreams of skydiving, scuba diving, and attending a mission trip to the Dominican Republic the summer after her freshman year of college. There she made bonds with children in a local community. She had planned to study abroad in Croatia this year through Gordon’s study of war and peace, learning from and ministering to survivors of war and genocide. This heart of compassion for others shone through in everything that Amanda did.  

Amanda faced her diagnosis with an indomitable spirit that became a beacon of hope for those around her. Throughout the ten months of her courageous battle, she exemplified resilience and determination that inspired everyone who witnessed her journey. Her parents and brother remained by her side through her battle and helped give her the strength to keep fighting. Her courage in the face of adversity became a testament to the strength that lies within the human spirit.

Despite the challenges she faced, She remained positive and continued to care deeply for her family members and friends. The last ten months of Amanda’s life, despite battling this illness, were lived just as fully as the first nineteen years. She went to the lake and beach, did “hot yoga,” and had plenty of dance parties. Amanda and her friends even made shaving her head into a dance party! In February, she saw one of her favorite singers, Stephen Sanchez, in concert and got to meet him backstage. Over the summer, Amanda had the opportunity to travel back to Brazil and make memories with her friends and family there. She spent some days in Chatham enjoying Cape life. She also created more memories with the family by going to Sunday meals, watching movies on her couch, and snuggling up with her mom, dad, and brother. She cherished every moment, finding beauty in the simple joys of life even during the darkest days. 

A devout Christian, Amanda found solace and strength in her faith and her incredibly close relationship with her mother. She exemplified grace and humility, teaching those around her the power of unwavering trust in God’s plan. Her journey became a testimony to the power of her relationship with Jesus, and her ability to find peace amidst suffering inspired all who knew her.  Amanda clung to the promises of God throughout her battle with cancer, steadfast in the confidence she had in the Lord’s goodness and mercy. Her family finds great peace knowing that she is home and receiving her joy and her rewards in full. Psalm 46 was a passage that Amanda kept hidden in her heart to inform the way she responded to her illness, and the song “Desert Road” by Casting Crowns became an anthem for her. 

Amanda is survived by her loving parents Ayssa Ribeiro and Luciano Costa and brother Luciano. She will be sorely missed by her grandparents, Getúlio E Souza and Marildes G Souza, Delcides L Costa and Marluce S Costa, her aunts and uncles Heyza (Yaya) and Marc Beer, Morvan and Paula Ribeiro, Mardem and Laura Ribeiro, Silvia and Hervey Afiune, Juliana S Costa, and Dell Costa, her cousins Hervey Jr, Peter, Nick, Cat, Liz, Bárbara, Thor, Antonella, Anna-Julia, Benjamin, Isabella, Jaycob and Logan. She is also survived by a huge extended family that includes MANY great aunts, great uncles, and extended cousins and a community of friends whose lives are forever changed by her life. While we mourn the loss of a beautiful soul, we also celebrate the profound impact she had on the world during her time with us.   Let us remember Amanda, not for the illness that took her from us but for the love, strength, and grace with which she faced life. May her memory be a source of inspiration for us all, a reminder to cherish each moment and to live our lives with the same unwavering faith and courage that she exemplified until the very end. 

Rest in peace, dear Amanda. You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will live on in the hearts of those who were touched by your remarkable presence. A celebration of life to honor Amanda will be held on Wednesday, October 11th at the Framingham Campus of Connect Church. Visitation will be held from 2:30 to 5:15 pm followed by a service at 5:30 pm. A brief reception will follow. The church address is 80 Beacon St Framingham MA 01701.

The family has requested for this to be a celebration of her life, so please don’t feel obligated to wear black. In lieu of flowers, we request that donations be made to support her family financially, as they navigate this enormous loss. For additional information, tributes, and guestbook, please visit mykeeper.com.