Frances Elizabeth Abbate Costello

Raleigh - Frances Elizabeth Abbate Costello, 67, died Tuesday at Wake Med in Raleigh.  Everyone who knew Frances remembers how warm and welcoming she was.  She opened her home to everyone, brought comfort with an Italian flair, and was the life, and cause, of many parties.  Frances also had a never give up perspective - and always said “the first no is always a maybe.”  Her quick wit and humor was what defined the Abbate & Costello family, including her memories of meeting the Beatles, and plentiful other outrageous but true stories.  She never ceased to amaze her family and friends by what she could accomplish by sheer force of will and determination.  She loved to dance, she loved to party, and she loved to make everyone around her happy whether it be from her cooking, or even from a present she might give you for no particular occasion other than it gave her joy to give to another.  Everyone enjoyed her company, and it didn’t hurt to have her food in a plate in front of you either, especially if it was her famous baked ziti!  She had been sick for a while, but she stayed strong for the family and fought through heaven and hell of illnesses, injuries, and setbacks, but she stuck with us through them all. After all she has been through, all she has shown in exchange is love and faith. She has been so sweet, so crazy, so lively, and most of all loving. She accepted everyone in her home. Her home was everyone’s home. As she was famous for saying, “Mi casa es su casa.”  She was a mother to everyone.  She was beautiful inside and out, and her “flaws” were really her best features. If she ever had an argument with you, it was out of the love and passion she showed for you, and no matter what you could say you would never break her love.  She was a woman of peace, love, and faith. God was always in her heart, and she shared his and her own blessings with everyone else she came to love.  She always felt 16 at heart like she always said she felt she was. She deserves all the love God will give her, and to be with all of our many loved ones in heaven. She is Frances Elizabeth Costello, our best friend, our sister, our sweetheart, our mother, our Auntie, our cousin, our grandmother, and our soul. Live long and prosper, little ducky. Memorial services will be held 11am Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.  The family will receive friends from 10-11 am Friday at the church prior to the service. Surviving are her husband of 49 years, Richard A. Costello; daughter, Elizabeth Frances Costello Malone and husband Barry of Raleigh; sons, Richard Costello, Jr. and wife Tammy of Garner, Christopher William Costello of Raleigh; sister, Susan Abbate Coats of Raleigh; brothers, William Victor Abbate, Jr. of Cary and James Matthew Abbate of Columbia, MD; 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. A reception will be held in the Fallon Center immediately following the committal at the columbarium. Memorials may be made to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.