Kathryn A. Costello

Kathryn Ann (Katie) Costello passed into eternal life on March 13, 2025 at the age of 95. She lived a life dedicated to her faith, family, friends and country. 

The daughter of James and Evelyn Kearns, Katie was raised in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated from Corpus Christi School in Fort Dodge and went on to receive a diploma from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1956 she and her husband, Dr. Albert John Costello, settled, grew a family and raised their four children in Munster, Indiana while Katie continued to work as a surgical nurse at St. Margaret's Hospital. 

In Munster, Katie lived an active life as a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, The Carmelite Home for Boys, Tri Kappa, Woodmar Country Club and several bridge groups. After relocating to Punta Gorda, Florida, in 2006, Katie became an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Twin Isles Country Club and, again, several bridge groups. 

Katie was loved for her competitive spirit and enjoyed golfing, bridge, bowling and winning thousands of games of rummy against her children and grandchildren (but no one's counting). She was a vivacious personality, never missing a good party or opportunity to dance. Her caring demeanor was defined in many ways, including knitting hundreds of winter hats for the homeless population of Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Katie will long be remembered by her family and friends for her unyielding faith, cheerful warmth, love of puzzles, and devotion to service. 

Katie was preceded in death by her parents, James and Evelyn (Anderson) Kearns; brothers James (Bud), Jack, and Thomas Kearns; sisters Francis Riley, Jane Mericle, Mary Evelyn Bjerke; and Albert, her loving husband of 60 years. She is survived by her brother, Robert Kearns of Las Vegas, Nevada, her children: Gerard (Julie) Costello, Kathy Langer, Maureen (Steve) Scheller, and Michael (Joy) Costello; six grandchildren: Michelle Costello, Caitlin (Ross) VanderKlok, Kelly (Dustin) Smekens, Stephen (Leah) Scheller, Lynne (Ederd) Peralta and Jonathan Costello; and four great-grandchildren: Tatum and Vaughn Smekens, Klay and Noah Peralta. 

A funeral mass will take place on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda, Florida. Burial will take place at a later date in Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville, Indiana, to be laid to eternal rest next to her husband Al. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the SHARE Foundation in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, the Wounded Warrior Project or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.