Joseph M. "Casty" Costello

Joseph M. “Casty” Costello, 77 of Atlas passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026 at UPMC Harrisburg.

Born at the former Ashland State Hospital on March 21, 1948, he was a son of the late Joseph W. and Annabelle H. (Dallago) Costello.

Joe was a 1966 graduate of Mount Carmel High School having excelled at football as an outstanding linebacker for Coach Joe Diminick. He was also team captain of the 1965 team.

He was a retired truck driver, having been employed for Roadway Trucking, Jeffrey Trucking, Cardinal Container and International Paper. Earlier in life he operated a pizza and hoagie shop in the basement of his Atlas home. He was also a general manager for the former Big Wrangler Steakhouses and was a bartender and worked security at the former Movements in Strong.

On May 2, 1970 in the former Saint Casimir Church, Kulpmont, he married Janice (Bourke) Costello who preceded him in death on June 16, 2015.

Joe was a member of Divine Redeemer Church, Mount Carmel, the Mount Carmel Knights of Columbus Council 628, where he was also a member of Fourth Degree, and the Atlas American Legion Post.

He was a former head coach of the Mount Carmel Jets A-Team in the mid to late 1980s where he led the team through numerous undefeated and tri-county championship seasons. He was an avid Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes and Pittsburgh Steelers Football fan.

Surviving are his son, Jeffrey Costello and his wife Kim of Harrisburg; five grandchildren, Tanner Joseph Costello, Katelyn Newhart, Jake and Jack Costello and Kaedryn Diguglielmo; one sister, Candace Greco of Sarasota, FL; one brother, Lawrence Costello and his wife Donna of Den-Mar Gardens; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Joseph M. Costello Jr. on June 28, 2004 and his granddaughter, Megan Newhart on August 18, 2025.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 11:00 am at Divine Redeemer Church, 300 West Ave., Mount Carmel with Rev. Bernard Wamayose, A. J., Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kulpmont. A visitation will be held on Wednesday morning from 9:00 am until 10:45 am at Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz III, Supervisor. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Joseph M. Costello Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Mount Carmel Area School District, 600 West Fifth Street, Mount Carmel, PA 17851. To offer condolences, share photos or memories of Joe with his family, please sign the guestbook at www.stutzfuneralhome.com.