Remembering Francis Costa

Remembering Frankie: When Real Estate Meets Real Life At Boston Connect Real Estate, we talk about homes, transitions, and new chapters every single day. But occasionally, life reminds us that before we are Realtors, brokers, agents, or clients, we are people. And some moments deserve to be honored exactly as they unfold. This past episode of Talk Real Estate Roundtable was one of those moments. A Personal Story Shared On December 13th, Sharon McNamara, Broker/Owner of Boston Connect Real Estate, opened the show not with market statistics or contract contingencies but with her heart. Sharon shared the passing of her father, Francis “Frankie” Costa, after a long and challenging journey with Lewy Body dementia. Frankie lived a full life 88 years filled with family, humor, resilience, and love. Yet, as Sharon shared, the grief did not come from his age, but from the years-long process of slowly losing pieces of someone you love while they are still physically here. “When my dad took his last breath, I felt like I took my first in three years.” That moment captured what so many families experience when caring for aging parents relief mixed with sorrow, gratitude mixed with exhaustion, and love layered into every emotion. Dementia, Caregiving, and Compassion Sharon spoke candidly about the realities of caregiving: the guilt, frustration, exhaustion, and the emotional toll of making impossible decisions. She highlighted how dementia is not just hard on the individual it deeply affects the entire family. A heartfelt thank-you was extended to the Senior Behavioral Health Department at Beth Israel in Plymouth, whose staff cared not only for Frankie, but for Sharon as well. “They didn’t just take care of my dad, they took care of me.” From simple gestures to profound compassion, the care team provided dignity, comfort, and humanity during the most vulnerable moments of Frankie’s life. Love, Legacy, and Saying It Out Loud Throughout the episode, one theme echoed again and again: say ‘I love you.’ Frankie’s final words to Sharon were, “I love you too.” A moment of clarity, connection, and peace that will live on forever. The conversation expanded into how often we hesitate to express love to friends, colleagues, neighbors because it may feel awkward. Sharon challenged that hesitation. “I don’t ever want the opportunity to go by where I don’t say that I love you.” It was a reminder that love doesn’t need perfect timing or perfect words it just needs to be said. Bringing It Back to Real Estate: Why Preparation Matters As difficult as it was, the conversation gently returned to real estate because life events and real estate are often deeply intertwined. Selling a home after the loss of a loved one can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions are raw and decisions feel impossible. This is why Sharon and the Boston Connect team emphasize preparation: Having wills and trusts in place Understanding long-term housing options Planning ahead for transitions Leaning on a trusted real estate team when the time comes “I can sell your home so you can do what you need to do to grieve, to heal, to breathe.” Real estate isn’t just about transactions. It’s about protecting families during some of life’s hardest chapters. Honoring Frankie’s Legacy In lieu of flowers, Sharon created a GoFundMe in Frankie’s memory to support patient comfort at Beth Israel Senior Behavioral Health Center. The funds will be used to purchase recliner-style wheelchairs providing dignity and comfort to patients while easing the physical strain on caregivers. It’s a tangible way to turn gratitude into lasting impact something Frankie would have deeply appreciated. A Final Thought This episode of Talk Real Estate Roundtable reminded us why connection matters. Why empathy matters. Why community matters. And above all, why love should never go unsaid. From all of us at Boston Connect Real Estate thank you for listening, for supporting, and for being part of our extended family. We love you.