Eileen Marie Costello Armstrong

Memorial service will be held Friday, January 23, at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1001 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, Missouri, Visitation at 10 a.m., with a Memorial Mass at 11 a.m.

Eileen was born on July 14, 1944, in Trenton, New Jersey. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in South Amboy, New Jersey in 1962 and from Catholic University in Washington DC in 1966. After college, she served as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Sibu, Malaysia and after completing her service she taught English at a Catholic School in Bangkok, Thailand. After working and traveling abroad, she returned to Washington DC and worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as an Education Specialist.

Eileen met her beloved husband, Donald Armstrong, in 1971 and they married on July 1, 1972. Don and Eileen had two daughters, Kara Maureen (1974) and Janet Leslie (1976), and remained in the DC area until 1983 when Don’s work brought them to Kansas City. After staying home to raise her daughters, Eileen went on to earn a master’s degree from The University of Kansas and taught Special Education for Jefferson County North Unified School District 339 until her retirement.

Eileen was an active and dedicated member of the American Association of University Women for over 25 years, where she forged many lasting friendships. Eileen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who took great joy in doting on her granddaughters. Eileen was also an avid traveler, often with her brother at her side, in recent years adventuring as far as France, Ireland, Dubai and Greece.

Eileen is preceded in death by her parents, Matthew Costello and Veronica Brannan Costello, husband, Donald Armstrong and her daughter, Janet Armstrong.

Eileen is survived by her daughter Kara Hettinger, her husband Timothy Hettinger, granddaughters Violet and Matilda Paisner, brother, Michael Costello, niece, Megan Holdgate and nephews, Sean and Timothy Costello.

Eileen will be missed dearly by her family and her large network of friends, many of whom she had been friends with for over 50 years.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either St. Francis Xavier, 1001 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64110 or American Association of University Women, c/o Marcia Cook, 9123 Tomashaw, Lenexa, KS 66219.