Joseph Patrick Costello

1937 - 2022

Joseph Patrick Costello
Joseph Patrick Costello, age 84, beloved husband of Teresa (Pierelli) Costello, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away peacefully at home in Lordship on Thursday, June 2, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 29, 1937 in New York, NY to the late Patrick and Kathleen (nee Brennan) Costello, both from Ireland. Raised in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, Joe grew up playing stickball in the streets and swimming in the Harlem River. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School before joining the US Navy from 1954-58. During his service he took part in Operation Deep Freeze I, a landmark mission to Antarctica in support of a multinational science project the "International Geophysical Year," aboard the icebreaker U.S.S. Edisto (AGB-2). He later served on the oil tanker U.S.S. Caloosahatchee (AO-98).
Joe met the love of his life, Teresa, while employed at Nathan Schwarz paper company. He was later an employee of Eastern Bag & Paper Company, where he progressed from salesman to Vice President over a 30-year career before retiring in 2008. Joe was a member of Our Lady of Peace church as well as the Knights of Columbus. He loved baseball and his NY Mets, enjoyed fishing and living near the ocean, and was proud of his naval service and his Irish heritage. A father of seven children and grandfather of ten treasured grandchildren, Joe enjoyed spending time with his family, for whom he was loyal, supportive, and quick-witted. For the last several years, he especially enjoyed time with his younger grandchildren, playing ball in the backyard. In addition to Teresa, his loving wife of 47 years, Joe is survived by their four children, Steven Costello, Robert Costello, David (Kristin) Costello and Laura (Saul Jacobowitz) Costello; former wife Cynthia and their three children, Joseph (Jolie) Costello Jr., Diane (James) McGonnigle, and predeceased by son Michael Costello. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kyle, Renee, Rebecca, Michael, Brian, Hazel, Olive, Fiona, Nora and Owen; sister Kathleen May; and several nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his sister Patricia Poulin.
Friends and family may call on Monday from 4pm – 8pm at the Pistey Funeral Home, 2155 Main Street, Stratford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday at 9:30am directly at Our Lady of Peace Church, 651 Stratford Road, Stratford. Interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (www.nmcrs.org/donate). Please visit www.pisteyfuneralhome.com to express condolences.