Linda Costello
This is Linda Costello mother of Amanda Costello, most of us who knew her earlier in her life called her Mandy.
I wish I had written an obituary for Mandy long ago, but time has past and now a year since her death. Yesterday (Feb 9)I wrote below to Bob Kutys step father, José father of her children (divorced 2023), Mollie her older sister, Max Cruz 24 her older son, and Luc 17 her younger son. It has been a full year with many challenges, but my memories with my daughter Mandy help me through knowing she needed peace in her life. Many of these memories are so positive. Her laughter was genuine, her caring at every level on her path to become a nurse was appreciated by so many, especially in her early years as a care giver in a skilled nursing facility, the young father who became quadriplegic after a serious accident. She told me she would stay extra, sometimes read to him, listen to his thoughts, but also share her stories. They would laugh, sometimes cry together.
From me to Mandy's family:
"I will someday succeed, but may not finally get an obituary written by tomorrow. My love for Mandy will never die. My memories and photos help me a lot. She accomplished a lot in a short life, and really wanted to get back to helping others, but her mental illnesses scared her, her addictions worsening them, and trouble with her prostheses and loneliness, too much to bear, went back to addictions to cope. My daughters have been gifts to me since they were born. I've said it before Mandy gave me her special gift of asking for help in what I'm sure she knew was going to be the end of her life. Especially when she texted me test results from the hospital. Being a very brilliant and caring nurse at one time she had to know her heart couldn't go on in her last few texts to me results of her ER tests that were coming in.
She gave us all the gift of being together. It was so special and meaningful. And tearing out the endotracheal tube another gift of last togetherness, stories, so much love, and laughter. I love you all. ❤️ 🕊️"