Jacquelyn Rose Costigan

Jackie met & married John Costigan in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1986. She often spoke about how lucky they were to find each other. She loved being with John and they loved surprising one another. He would surprise her with jewelry. She once surprised him with a Florida deep sea fishing trip.

She is survived by John, her husband of 26 years, her daughters Mindy Winter & Kathryn (Katie) Costigan and her 13 year old grandson Jay Winter; her parents Joseph & Shirley Winter; sister Sharon Berry and her brother-in-law Brett Berry and their sons, Trevor and Brett Berry; sister-in-law Laura Winter and her son, Blake Winter; Sisters-in-law Amy, Peggy, Jenny, and Ruby and many Costigan nieces and nephews. Jackie was predeceased by her brother, Joey, and her brother-in-law, Hubert.

Jackie and John moved to Old Lyme in 1994 where she almost immediately began some professional relationships that became close friendships and that have continued to the present day. Jackie and Diana Seckla worked side by side for many years in Checks and Balances. More recently, she worked behind the scenes at Coffee’s Country Market.

Jackie also managed the office for Steve Hallahan, Housewright, for many many years.

She loved the guys who worked for Steve. On a recent morning, when Jackie wasn’t feeling well & didn’t make it to work, her main concern was how to get coffee & donuts to the Hallahan crew. In typical Jackie fashion, she tried to convince John that he should deliver the goods. Last month, when she & John were in Aruba, she purchased a stuffed turtle for the young son of one of Steve’s workers. The men and their families were always close to her heart.

Although she was a busy professional, Jackie made sure she was available for every major and minor school event. When Katie starred as Annie in a middle school production, John made all of the orphan beds for the set. Jackie, who was then president of the middle school PTO, organized everything else. The Costigan home was cast party central for a series of middle school productions. Everyone was made to feel welcome at Jackie’s house.

Jackie liked to fix things and would do things for people “whether you liked it or not.”

She tried really hard to instigate a “match” between their electrician, Jason Zelek, and her daughter, Mindy. It is a tribute to Jackie’s people skills that both Jason and Mindy remain able to laugh at Jackie’s unsuccessful efforts.

When she attended Katie’s first high school crew team meet, Jackie was horrified that all the team had to eat all day were granola bars & orange segments.

In another very typical move, she & John brought a grill to the next meet – and all the ones after that – so they could serve the team real food. As Katie recalls, “We had five course meals,” thanks to her parents.

Jackie was always coming up with reasons for Katie’s friends – and their parents -- to gather at their home. For multiple years, the Costigans hosted Katie’s friends for New Years Eve parties that lasted until the next morning. Friends and family celebrated Bugs the dog’s birthday with the same enthusiasm shown for Memorial Day, Labor Day, John’s 40th birthday, and High School graduation.

On hot summer nights, Jackie and John would pile Katie’s friends in their cars & take them to a casino parking lot to see a breathtaking fireworks display. They once had three generations of their family together at a Meatloaf concert. Family – and friends – meant everything to Jackie.

Her generosity seemed effortless and it was limitless. She sent Mindy & Katie to Las Vegas last year for a rock extravaganza weekend. This year, she booked them on a cruise. Cash would find its way into their pockets. Deposits would mysteriously appear in their bank accounts. Christmas gifts Jackie ordered for the people she loved have already started arriving at their house.

Jackie had many favorite things. Watching Katie & Jay perform was one of them. Jackie would sit quietly outside the bathroom door and listen to Jay singing in the shower. She was a passionate reader and would often have a mass market paperback in one hand and a cup filled with ice she had custom-crushed with a rolling pin in the other.

It took her awhile to adjust to her Kindle but it became a loyal companion.

Jackie loved 4 -wheeling with John on their ATVs and looked forward to climbing into her hot tub. Her love of travel was evidenced by the 20+ cruises she and John enjoyed.

Most were to the Caribbean, although one special one brought them to the Mediterranean.

Every trip was marked by John’s famous countdowns on their kitchen bulletin board – a number that would greet all visitors to their home and let everyone know when they would be travelling next. India was the next place on her list -- Jackie was hoping to travel there with Mindy.

Family was the most important thing to Jackie & she included her good friends in that category. She also included their many and much-loved pets; Dogs Bugs and Tyson, Ralph the cat, and now, the chickens. Although it is John who built the coop and set up the “chicken cam” so he could keep an eye on them, he is quick to point out that hers was the voice they heeded. “Jackie would say ‘C’mon girls,’ and the chickens would line up like the Partridge Family.”

Jackie Costigan will be sorely missed by all who have been touched by her loving heart.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Old Lyme Ambulance Association, PO Box 911, Old Lyme, CT 06371.