Elizabeth (Betty) Costello Poggiali of Eastchester, born on Oct. 4, 1947, in Mount Vernon, went to heaven on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at the age of 70. Betty’s most recent residence was the United Hebrew Home of New Rochelle. For years, Betty suffered the progressive, debilitating effects of early onset Alzheimer’s disease with courage, beauty, grace, patience and a sense of humor. Betty’s family prefers to think of her not as a victim but as the loving wife of Leonard; mother of Christian, Philip (Kristina) and Jennifer (Steven Ovadia); sister of John P. Costello, Mary Ellen Richards (deceased) and Margaret Riemer, and child of the late John M. Costello and the late Anne Ferrara Costello.

Professionally, Betty was an elementary school librarian whose love of children and reading aloud was evident from the very first day she entered Minoa Elementary School in the Syracuse, New York, area. Proof of her love and devotion for her family and for her calling in life was evidenced when each of Betty’s three children followed in her footsteps, becoming librarians as well.

Betty’s educational background included a B.A. in history from the College of New Rochelle, a Master’s in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as graduate work toward elementary library certification completed at Syracuse University and SUNY Oswego. As a young child, Betty attended St. Catharine’s School in Pelham, New York, before her family moved to Maspeth, Queens.

Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Poggiali include a wake on Sept. 4, 2018, at the Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Ave., Pelham, New York, from 4 to 8 p.m., a funeral Mass to be held at St. Catherine’s Church, 25 Second Ave., Pelham, New York, on Sept. 5, 2018, at 10 a.m. and interment at Greenwood Union Cemetery, 215 North St., Rye, New York, following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, Elizabeth Poggiali’s family would prefer that charitable contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601.