Dr. Dawn E. “Debbie” Costello

Dr. Dawn E. “Debbie” Costello was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. Always a nurse and educator, she spent her life helping others. Surrounded by her family, she died on February 26, 2024. She was born to Thelma and Earl Barnes on December 7, 1940.

After graduating high school, Dawn pursued her Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962. She continued to educate herself in her field, earning a Master of Science in education from Temple in 1967 and a Doctor of Education from Lehigh University in 1973. She later went on to earn a Master of Science in nursing at Allentown College in 1992.

Dawn was married to Robert G. Costello on May 12, 1962. They had two children, Michael and Kelly, and three grandchildren, Alessandro, Madeline and Cara.

Dawn dedicated her life to her career in nursing. She held many roles, starting as a school nurse in the Allentown School District. She went into nursing administration and served as the Associate Director of Nursing for Allentown Sacred Heart Hospital. She was the Director of Public Health Nursing for the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem. Dawn later served as Director of Nursing at both Coaldale Hospital and Liberty Nursing and Rehab Center.

Deb enjoyed living with her husband and family on their farm where she could garden and enjoy the birds and deer from her window. Her greatest enjoyment came from being with her children and grandchildren.

Supporting their mission to serve the community, Dawn spent many years as a member of the Rotary Club of West Allentown.

Dawn will be greatly missed.

Services: Mass of Christian Burial, 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 7th, in St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexer Ave. Allentown. Call 9:30 AM until Mass. Arrangements entrusted to STEPHENS FUNERAL HOME, INC. (www.stephensfuneral.com)

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Rotary Club of Allentown West, www. allentownwestrotary.org, or Alzheimer’s Association, www.act.alz.org.