Edna Elizabeth "Bette" Costello

Bette (Hartsell) Costello went to be with the Lord on March 21, 2021, at Bay Village in Sarasota, FL, after a courageous fight against COPD.  

Born on October 11, 1935 in Haddonfield, New Jersey, Bette was raised in Lindenwold, NJ, then moved to Vineland, NJ as a teenager. She worked for several years at the family business, Zip Cleaners; then as an information operator at New Jersey Bell.

Bette met her future husband when she was invited to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of Vivienne and Frank Romano. It was love at first sight when she met her partner, Salvatore “Sal” Costello. They married a year later.

Bette’s great loss was when Sal died suddenly in 1974.  She is predeceased by her husband as well as her parents, Edna (Ernst) and Robert L. “Bob” Hartsell and brother-in-law, Gordon Shaw.

She is survived by her two beloved daughters and their significant others, Shirlee and Tony DiBacco of Ventnor, NJ and Brenda Viola and Mark Roach of Sarasota, FL. Her granddaughter, Deena (DiBacco) Cook and husband Jeremy, gave Bette her most recent joy, great-grandson Atlas Fisher Cook. Her grandson, David DiBacco and fiancé, Stephanie Rocca, equally brought Bette much happiness. She is also survived by her dear sister, Joan Shaw, and cherished brother, Robert L. “Bob” Hartsell, Jr. and his wife, Nydia, as well as sister-in-law, Rose Yegla and many special nieces and nephews.

While her daughters were in school, Bette worked for 13 years in the cafeteria at John C. Milanesi School in Buena, NJ. She later embarked on a 25-year career in the Wardrobe Department at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Following her retirement from Harrah’s, she went back to work at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Mays Landing, NJ, first in the Food Demonstration Department and lastly, in the Optical Department. 

She will always be remembered for her beautifully decorated and delicious homemade ricotta cookies, her immaculate home, perfectly styled hair and clothing, and her love of surprising friends and family with gifts of cookies or homemade meals; her way of saying “I love you.”

Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects for Bette on Saturday, April 10th at Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home,1024 E Landis Ave, Vineland, NJ beginning at 9 a.m., with a tribute offered by her daughters commencing at 10 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to Bette’s favorite charity, Shriner’s Hospital, are deeply appreciated: https://lovetotherescue.org/memorial-gifts.