Sydney B Costello

Sydney B. Costello (born Sydney Burns Buttrill in Hayward CA), age 82 and a resident of Pepperell, MA passed away August 16, 2025. Sydney spent her teen years in Hampton, VA and graduated from Hampton High School in 1960 and William and Mary College as an English major in 1964, where she contributed to the Flat Hat (W&M student newspaper) and the Pep Club. She met a young Air Force officer (Lt. Mark Costello) in college through playing bridge. Sydney and Mark were married in 1963 shortly before she graduated college. As Mark was Catholic, Sydney converted to Catholicism and it was an important part of her life. Mark and Sydney spent most of their marriage in Cypress, CA where Sydney taught Religion at Rosary Academy, a girl’s high school in Fullerton, CA, and St. Maria Goretti Parish in Long Beach.

Sydney served as Director of Religious Education at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Long Beach, CA, from 1985 to 1998. Under her guidance, the Elementary, Junior High, First Communion, and Confirmation programs flourished. Together with Norma Duffy, DRE at St. Cornelius Parish, and Judy DeRuyter, DRE at St. Joseph Parish, Sydney helped develop a First Communion preparation program that involved parent participation as partners in their children’s faith journey. This innovative program was recognized by the archdiocese, and Sydney, Judy, and Norma jointly received an award for their work.

She loved dogs and kids, the more the merrier. She and Mark would take in foster children, eventually adopting one. Her house was always a shelter for any child or teen having a tough time.

Predeceasing Sydney were her husband of 49 years, Mark D. Costello, and son, Patrick Sean Costello of Cypress, CA. Sydney is survived by her sons Timothy Harlan (Laurie Gerberding) Costello of Taylor, TX, David Joseph Costello and Sherry Costello of Pepperell, MA, and grandchild Ryan Joseph Costello of Pepperell, MA.

A gravesite service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Pepperell, MA, on September 27, 2025.