Helen Audrey Costello

Helen Audrey Costello September 2, 1922 - Manchester, United Kingdom August 14, 2013 - San Rafael, California Helen Audrey Costello (nee Fellowes), a Marin County resident for 50 years, died peacefully at Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael in the company of family. Audrey was born and raised in England as the eldest of two daughters of Bernard and Beatrice Fellowes. She received her degrees in French, English and Latin from Leeds University, England in 1941 and 1942 and immediately commenced her teaching career at St. Michael's College in Leeds, an all-boys Jesuit high school. During this time, while chaperoning her sister at a local dance, she met Bill Costello, a young navigator stationed at Croft, England with the 434 (Bluenose) Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. After only five dates, they became engaged and were married July 18, 1944. This was a risky decision at the time as Bill had another 3 months of dangerous flying over wartime Europe prior to completing his tour of duty. Needless to say, he did survive, and was repatriated to Canada in November 1944. Audrey joined him the following month, sailing along with a thousand other war brides on the "Louis Pasteur", eventually disembarking in Montreal, Canada and traveling from there to Toronto, Canada, to meet Bill. They settled in Toronto and, in short order, four years to be exact, Bill and Audrey had four sons, Michael, John, Kevin and Larry. In Toronto, Audrey was active in the University Women's Club, French and Bridge clubs, and especially in her church. She also managed to continue her teaching career. In 1963, Bill was transferred to San Francisco and the family settled in Marin County. Audrey taught for almost 20 years at San Domenico Lower School in San Anselmo. She remained active in University Women's groups, French groups, Bridge clubs and as a lector, commentator and Eucharistic Minister at St. Isabella's Church in Terra Linda. She was also an avid hiker, symphony and theater lover, traveler, prolific reader and gifted writer, lifelong learner, and friend to many. She was predeceased by Bill in 1996 and her sister Una in 2010. She is survived by her sons Michael (Shirlee) of Windsor, CA; John (Mara) of Calgary, Canada; Kevin (Rita) of Santa Rosa, CA; and Larry (Mary) of San Francisco, CA; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews in England. A Rosary will be recited at Keaton's Mortuary in San Rafael at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, and a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 o'clock noon on Wednesday, August 21, at St. Isabella's Church in Terra Linda.