Karen Adale Costello Obituary (1946

Karen A. Costello, 79, of Normal, formerly of Montgomery, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at her home. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Park, Aurora, IL and Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home will be assisting the family with cremation arrangements. Memorials may be made to International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, in Chicago, IL 60601 or Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora, IL 60505. Karen was born in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Paul and Marian (Gast) Shoger. She married Michael Costello in 1971, and he preceded her in death in 2024. She was survived by her daughter, Aimee (Eric) Kirchner, three grandchildren, Gretchen Stanfa, Benjamin Stanfa, and Gwendolyn Kirchner; her brother, Bruce (Meridy) Shoger; her sister-in-law, Mary (Lynn) Shoger; and nieces and nephews, Justin Shoger, Marni Barton, Rachel Collins-Shoger, Alyssa Clayton, David Shoger, Beth Novak and Sandra Costello-Lowkewicz. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Lynn (Mary) Shoger. Karen graduated from Oswego High School and received her B.A. in Education from Aurora University. She began her teaching career at Western Avenue School in Geneva, IL and retired from Hinkley-Big Rock Middle School. Karen’s faith in Jesus Christ was very important to her as were her family and friends. She lived out her faith in many ways including serving on committees and in choir throughout her years at Oswego Prairie United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed meeting with her friends in the women’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study until very recently.