Mary ‘Maxine’ Costello, 87

March 14, 1929 —

Feb. 25, 2017

 

New Hampton -  Mary “Maxine” Costello, age 87, of New Hampton, Iowa, was called to her heavenly home by her Savior on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton, surrounded by family members.

Funeral services for Maxine will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at Jerico Lutheran Church in Jerico, Iowa with Reverend Peter Faugstad officiating. Burial will be held at Jerico Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton and will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral services on Wednesday. Online condolences for Maxine’s family may be left at www.conway-markhamfh .com. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Maxine was born March 14, 1929 in Fredericksburg, Dresden Township, Iowa to Peter and Velta (Snider) Carpenter. She was the second child of nine. 

Maxine was a graduate of Fredericksburg High School and Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, Iowa and taught rural school for three years near Republic Township, Iowa. On March 14, 1948, she was united in marriage to John D. Costello at First Baptist Church in Fredericksburg. The couple farmed near Republic until December 1951 when they purchased the family farm north of Jerico. Here, Maxine and John raised their children, sharing all of the duties of being a farm family. They also sold Pioneer hybrid seed corn. 

Upon their retirement in 1982, they moved to New Hampton. Maxine was active in Jerico Ladies Aid, Bethany Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, was a charter member of County-Liners Women’s Group and was a Diligent Daughters 4-H Club leader. 

She loved her church family, gardening, canning and freezing, cooking for family, working outside, traveling and having coffee with her Florida friends and Homestead neighbors. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Maxine is survived by her children, James D. Costello of Elma, Iowa, John F. (Cynthia) Costello of Zimmerman, Minn., Mary (Roland) Natvig of Deer River, Minn., Gregory W. (Janet) Costello of North Mankato, Minn. and Gene A. (Lisa) Costello of Calmar, Iowa; her grandchildren, Kari Schmitz, Kirstin (Chris) Kasa, Nichole (Jess) Ellingson, Peter (Kelly) Costello, Jeremy (Rachel) Costello, Jarett Costello, Jason (Hallie) Costello, Jessica Costello and John C. Costello; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Blanche Michener of Eagle Grove, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John D. Costello in 2005; and several siblings.