Mary Ann Costello passed away peacefully early Monday morning, May 20, 2019 while living at Rosemont Assistant Living facility, Humble, Texas at the age of 100 (she passed three days prior to 101 birthday). She was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 23, 1918 to Arthur Crawford and Anna O’Neil Crawford.
She grew up living in Columbus and graduated from Saint Mary of the Springs High School in June, 1936.
In the spring of her junior year she, along with her dance instructor, were attending a dance competition in New York. While there her teacher suggested that she audition for the New York City Rockettes. She did and was hired to be a summer replacement.
After graduating high school she danced with the Rockettes every summer while attending Ohio State University. For a short time after graduating college she was a fitness instructor for Elizabeth Arden in Chicago. She then moved to New York City to be a full time Rockette.
While living and dancing in New York she met John Costello, a young man from Columbus. Though they had mutual Columbus friends they had never met until they both were attending a party.
They married on January 9, 1943. Three months after their wedding Army Lt. John Costello was sent overseas. He was gone for two and a half year. They wrote letters back and forth the entire time he served. She still has all the letters he wrote to her.
They had three children, Nancy Costello (deceased), Michael (Brenda) Costello, and Patrick (Maureen) Costello. Their family home was in St. Louis. They have four grandchildren, Matthew Costello, Rebecca Costello Champ, Brendan Costello, and Brian Costello. Mary Ann also had one great grandson, Lincoln Champ.
John and Mary Ann were married for 64 years. A few years after his death she moved into an independent living facility in St Louis. Then in November 2016 she moved to Humble, TX to live with her son and daughter-in-law, who had recently retired. Then in November, 2017 she moved to Rosemont. She enjoyed living here. She was close to her son and daughter-in-law, her granddaughter Rebecca, her husband and her great-grandson Lincoln.
Mary Ann loved reading fiction, biographies and the daily newspaper. For years she would play Bridge monthly with her girlfriends. She also was a member of a garden club. Family members chuckle because it was more of a social get together with very little gardening. She was a proud member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
She is greatly missed by her family. She lived a long and rich life. After her cremation her family will take her remains to St Louis where she will be interned with her husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. The date for the grave side service has not been set.