Helen passed away Saturday, March 21 after a long and hard battle with lung disease at the age of 80. She took charge as a trooper, but lost the battle. Born in Hellertown she was the daughter of the late John Rein and Bertha (Shenk) De Boer. At age 14 she met her best friend, and husband of 62 years Charles A. Costello Sr. Charlie gave Helen a kiss on the cheek and said "I'm going to marry you". She then took him home and had her father make him a grilled cheese sandwich. She knew her end was here, and told her family with smiles she was happy and brave. She would be going to meet her granddaughter Cyndi at the gates of heaven. Her dying wish was for her family to have peace and love. She is predeceased by her sister Mae
; brother William; and granddaughter Cynthia (Cyndi) Knappenberger, who was killed on September 5, 1993.
Survivors: Loving husband Charlie; daughters Helen E. Knappenberger, and Charlene Nguyen and husband Hai; son Charles A. Costello Jr. and wife Christine; brother Carl De Boer; grandchildren Joe, Tommy and wife Kim, Shannon and husband Michael, Lynda and husband Jimmy, and Hollie; and great grandchildren Anthony and Jaylee.

Services: Viewing Friday, March 27 from 6-8pm, and Saturday, March 28 from 11:00-11:30am. Funeral service at 11:30am. All at Weber Funeral Home, 1619 W. Hamilton St., Allentown. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Allentown, to follow. www.weberfuneralhomes.com

Contributions: In lieu of flowers please give to Temple University Hospital at http://giving.templehealth.org/.