Melissa Yvonne Costello

Melissa Yvonne Costello, 42, passed away unexpectedly on May 20, 2019. Melissa currently resided in Baltimore County, Maryland but was formerly of Bowie. Melissa graduated from Bowie High School in 1995. The previous year she was in a serious car accident involving herself and three other friends which resulted in serious injuries to all the girls. Fortunately, Melissa healed and went on to CCBC (Community College of Baltimore County, Maryland, Essex campus). Her career as a veterinary technician provided a way for her to use her passion to care for animals. She worked with outstanding veterinarians at P.G. County Spay and Neuter Clinic, BARC’S, Baltimore County Animal Shelter and Academy Animal Hospital. She also had a mobile nail trimming business for dogs and cats.  This gave her an opportunity to work with many different animal shelters, rescue projects, TNR (trap, neuter and release) as she strived to promote awareness of cat colony management and protection against cruelty to animals. Her collection of aluminum cans provided money to help community rescue shelters. Melissa was also conscientious of the environment and devoted time to the cleaning of streams, ponds, and rivers including Back River in Essex. Besides caring for animals and the environment, Melissa enjoyed playing pool at local places including the Red Rooster and the Shamrock Inn. She supported favorite sports teams like The Washington Red Skins, The Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles and, most especially, her Washington Capitals.  She enjoyed a Baltimore favorite, drinking “Natty Boh” while rooting for the “home” team.    At one time, Melissa worked for the Bowie Bay Socks minor league baseball team. She also waitressed at establishments in the area, OPI, Pizza Hut and, most recently at, Dave & Busters. Melissa loved to read and enjoyed cartoons, especially anime.  She collected many Warner Brothers and Superheroes characters, as well as, comic books. Her personality was highlighted by her many tattoos. Her body art included the following, each with its own symbolism for her: A Paw Print Moose A “Converse All Star” Patch (Chucks) A “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle”, Raphael B’more Girl with Baltimore City Outline Pool sticks “Life of Agony” logo Capricorn for her birth month “Natty Boh” A Butterfly bracelet around her wrist in honor of her Grandmother Sellner Melissa drew great joy from supporting and attending local heavy metal bands’ “gigs” and concerts. She was involved in setting up local band events. A great release for Melissa was being an integral part of the “mosh pit” culture. Her two favorite bands were “Life of Agony” and “Biohazard”. In 1995, Melissa entered and won the “The Great Biohazardmobile Giveaway” in the magazine, “Rip”. Unfortunately, the car, described as a glorious 1980 Chevy Malibu classic, was a piece of junk. It did catch the attention of Dan Rodricks of the Baltimore Sun Paper, who wrote an article about Melissa and the car.  A quote from the article says, “so, the band did the right thing by getting the car in running order.” These events, work and the shelters were where she developed many caring friends that supported and loved her. Melissa is survived by her mother, Nancy Sellner Costello and her brother, Christopher Charles Costello, her father, Franklin Thomas Costello, her stepmother, Sherry Marcos Costello and Melissa’s   brother, Franklin T. Costello, Jr. (TC). Also, her aunts and uncles, Bonnie J. Sellner, Charlene Y. Sellner, great uncle C. David Affron, Anne Fletcher, David and Frannie Costello and cousins, Lisa Giordano Burns, Brittany and Eddie Fletcher, Robin and David Costello and Debbie Costello Parayos. Melissa is predeceased by her step- father, William A. Langenfelder, her grandparents, Charles W. and Ruth B. Sellner, Franklin and Frances Costello, as well as Costello family members, Mary Dee, Frank and Julie Giordano.   If you wish to remember Melissa in a special way, please donate to one or more of her favorite charities: Senior Dog Sanctuary   8336 Wb and A Road Severn, MD 21144 CCMD (Community Cats Maryland) P.O. Box 3637 Baltimore, MD  21214 Alley Cat Rescue   P.O. Box 96499 Washington, DC 20077-7437 Defenders of Animal Rights, Inc. P.O. Box25 Baltimore, MD 21131 Family and friends may visit Connelly Funeral Home on Saturday, July 27, 2019 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm. A celebration of Melissa’s life service will begin afterwards at 4:00pm