Obituary: Ulilla Jean Costello

April 5, 1937 - January 19, 2024 

January 29, 2024

Ulilla Jean Costello, 1937-2024. Courtesy photo

Ulilla Jean Costello, age 86, passed peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2024, at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Vermont, with her loving family by her side.   

“Eulie,” was born on April 5, 1937, to John Francis and Marion Hampton Allen in Towanda, Pennsylvania.  

Life was simple back then, living on a farm. Her favorite chore as a child was to take care of “Sammy the Lambie.” Eulie attended Towanda High School, graduating in 1955. She kept in touch with her classmates her entire life and enjoyed attending the reunions. It was in Towanda where she met the love of her life, John Costello of Irvington, New York.  Eulie and John were married September 7,1957, and their marriage lasted 60 years. 

Eulie loved mystery novels, especially Agatha Christie. She was a lifetime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and actively attended meetings in Goshen, New York. When relocating to Vermont, she joined the Duxbury Historical Society in Duxbury, as well as the Waterbury Genealogy Society in Waterbury, Vermont.   

She enjoyed creating crafts, finishing crossword puzzles and putting together jigsaw puzzles.  Her lifetime work was her research, documentation and commitment to the family genealogy, of which the family is grateful and will treasure for many generations to come. Everyone who knew Eulie will remember her radiant smile and memorable laughter. She was a dear friend with a warm heart. 

Eulie worked in the Goshen School district as a classroom assistant in the kindergarten rooms and later in the Intermediate school as a reading support teacher.  She also worked at the Goshen Public Library and Historical Society (best job she ever had) supporting genealogical and historical research. She served as Town Clerk for the Town of Hamptonburgh, New York, working from the front hallway of the family house on Neelytown Road.   

Finally, it was her family that she devoted her life to. She took great pride in her children’s successes and was always there to support them when life turned tough.  Education was important to her, and it shows because all her children have earned college degrees.  

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, John Francis and Marion Hampton Allen, her brother John Allen, her loving husband John Larkin Costello, sister-in-law Elizabeth Bryne, brother-in-Law Eddie Kulick Sr., nephew Eddie Kulick Jr., cousin Ann Marie Allen. 

Eulie is survived by her sister Suzanne Kulick from Wysox, Pennsylvania; daughter Tracy Costello from Berlin, Vermont; sons John Patrick Costello and spouse Audrey from Mena, Arizona, Michael Costello and spouse Pamela from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Christopher Costello and spouse Diana from Moretown, Vermont, Thomas Costello and spouse Corinna from Danville, Vermont. She is also survived by her grandchildren Katie Kuzio and spouse Danny (great-grandchildren Eleanor and Lydia); John (Sam) Costello and spouse Emily MacGregor; Hannah Costello; Meghan Cote-Costello and spouse Anissa; Mary Costello; Madison Costello; Porter Costello; nephew Richard Condon and spouse Phyll from New Canaan, Connecticut, nephew Jon Kulick and spouse Diane from Wysox, Pennsylvania, and niece Kim Kulick Fairchild of Towanda, Pennsylvania.  

Eulie's illness was brief, and she only had a short window of time. She took this time to call family members and intentionally let them know how much she loved them. In lieu of flowers and donations the Costello family requests that all people reading this call their loved ones and tell them how much they mean to them.  This would honor Eulie's memory most. 

Please join the family in celebrating Eulie’s life on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home, 48 South Main St., Waterbury. At 5:30 p.m. family and friends will take a moment to honor her life. The interment will take place on May 18 at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Towanda, Pennsylvania.  

To leave condolences for the family, visit Perkins Parker Funeral Home online here.