Ruth A. Costello, 81

LACONIA — Ruth A. Costello (nee Raymond) found her greatest sense of purpose later in life through caring for others. After returning to school in the early 1990s, she earned her LNA certification and devoted herself to work that reflected her compassion and patience. She spent several years at the Taylor Home in Laconia, and later served as an in-home hospice care LNA. Ruth took genuine pride in her role as a caregiver and found great joy in comforting patients and supporting their families during life’s most vulnerable moments.

Ruth was born on March 27, 1945, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Charles Raymond and Anna (Wessel) Raymond of Hyde Park, Massachusetts. She was one of four children, growing up alongside her siblings Mary Raymond, Theodore Raymond, and Evelyn (Raymond) Kenney.

On Sept. 15, 1968, Ruth married Thomas P. Costello. Together they made their home in Meredith, where Ruth focused on raising their six children: Maura, Kellie, Thomas, Matthew, Erin and Kyle Costello. She loved being a mother and was very proud of her children and of the adults they became, often boasting — always with a smile — that she had raised six.

Ruth enjoyed working with her hands and had a number of hobbies that brought her quiet pleasure over the years. She sewed and crocheted, often making thoughtful and practical items for family members. For a time, she enjoyed playing the guitar. Cooking was especially important to her, and she took great pleasure in baking and sharing food with others. Her kitchen was a familiar gathering place, and many of her well-loved recipes have been passed down and remain part of her family’s traditions.

Ruth also maintained a thoughtful inner life that she expressed through writing poetry. Her poems reflected her faith and her appreciation for the natural world. In the 1980s, she self-published a small volume of her poetry, an accomplishment she was quietly but deeply proud of. She continued writing throughout her life, often jotting down verses as inspiration came to her, leaving behind words that captured her reflections and beliefs.

Ruth appreciated a good joke and enjoyed sharing moments of humor with those around her. In her later years at the Laconia Rehab Center on Blueberry Lane in Laconia, she often exchanged laughs with the staff, who were very fond of her. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff for the kindness, care, and compassion they showed Ruth over the years.

Ruth passed away on March 28, 2026, one day after her 81st birthday. She will be remembered for her kindness, her love of her children, the pride she took in her work and her writing, and the care she gave so freely to others.

Ruth is survived by her children Maura, Kellie, Matthew, Erin and Kyle Costello; her grandchildren, Lyrik, Thomas and Ren Costello; her sister Evelyn (Raymond) Kenney; and her nieces Pauline Millbourn (daughter of Mary Raymond), and Beth Byers and Tina Kenney (daughters of Evelyn).

Her legacy lives on in the family she raised, the lives she touched through her caregiving, and the words she left behind.

At this time there will be no services.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.