Cosimo V. "Gus" Costese , 88, died Saturday, March 24, 2007 at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he resided in Elizabeth before moving to Branchburg 53 years ago. Cosimo was a veteran of World War II. He served in the U.S. Army. He worked as a foreman with the Singer Corporation in Elizabeth for 43 years before retiring in 1983. He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, George Washington Assembly, #0653 of Somerville and its Color Guard and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in Whitehouse. Cosimo was a communicant of Holy Trinity R.C. Church in Bridgewater as well as an usher and member of its Holy Name Society and an avid bingo worker for the church. He was also a member of the Branchburg Senior Citizens. Cosimo was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 39 years, Margaret D. Sarica Cortese, in 1986. Surviving are his loving daughter, Lillian Lazorchak and husband, John of Branchburg, his cherished grandchildren, John Lazorchak of Raritan and Lisa Smith and husband, John, of Raritan, two cherished great-grandchildren, twins, Daniel and Sarah, his dear sister, Anna Galuppo and husband, Thomas, of Newton, his dear brothers, Thomas Cortese and wife, Josephine of Berkeley Heights and Joseph Cortese and wife, Mickey of Hawaii. Funeral services will begin with a prayer on Wednesday at 9:15 AM at Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 US Highway 202 South, Branchburg, followed by a 10:00 AM Funeral Liturgy at Holy Trinity R.C. Church, 60 Maple Street, Bridgewater. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery, Route 28, Bridgewater. Visitation hours will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cosimo's memory to Holy Trinity R.C. Church, 60 Maple Street, Bridgewater, NJ, 08807. To send a lasting tribute or condolences to the Cortese family, please sign the online guestbook. Click "Sign Guestbook" below.