Sister Mary Brian Costello, RSM

Sister Mary Brian Costello, RSM died peacefully at Mercy Circle on May 22. 

Born in 1924, Sister Brian entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1942.

Sister Brian is preceded in death by her parents William and Mary Costello and her sisters Bernadine Neil, Elizabeth McConnell and Loretta Eynatten.  She is survived by several nieces and nephews including Mary Lou (John) Rogers of San Ramon, CA and Patricia (Donald) Johnson of Niwot, CO.

Sister Brian received her BA from Saint Xavier University and her MA from University of Notre Dame.  She served in various educational ministries as both teacher and as administrator, including as principal of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School.   She served on the Sisters of Mercy Leadership Team from 1973 to 1979.

In 1983, Sister Brian was named the first woman and non-cleric Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago.  In 1989 Cardinal Joseph Bernardin named Sister Brian his Chief of Staff, a pioneering position for a woman and one she held until she retired in 1997.

Throughout her ministry Sister Brian exhibited a passion for assuring educational opportunities for all children.  She was a founding member of the Big Shoulders Fund.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7:30 pm on Monday, May 29, at Mercy Hall, 10044 S. Central Park, Chicago, IL.  and from 9-10:15 am on Tuesday, May 30.  A Remembering service will be held at 6:30 pm Monday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday at 10:30 am at Mercy Chapel, 10044 S. Central Park, Chicago.  Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sisters of Mercy-Chicago or The Big Shoulders Fund.

Please enter Mercy Hall and Mercy Chapel through the Mercy Hall entrance in the rear of the building.  Masks are optional.

Arrangements entrusted to Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home (thompsonkuensterfuneralhome.com), 708-425-0500.