Barbara Costello Lawrence passed away surrounded by her family on May 9, 2021 at the age of 82. If you ever met Barbara, within five minutes you felt like you knew her your whole life. She was a devoted wife, a tenacious mother, a doting grandmother and an absolutely luminous great grandmother. Her life was inextricably interwoven with her family and her threads of wisdom and love will transcend generations.
Barbara was born July 6, 1938 in Catskill, New York. She was the first child of John and Winifred Costello (preceded in death). She had two siblings and relished memories of growing up with Pat Tantillo and John Costello (Pam). She attended Rush Henrietta Central School with 55 other classmates and made a point of attending as many class reunions as possible. Barbara earned her BA in Early Childhood Education and Home Economics from Michigan State University. She was a member and president of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. During her sophomore year she met the love of her life Harold (Hal) Lawrence.
Barbara and Hal met on a blind date and quickly became inseparable. Before they returned home for summer break, Barbara and Hal were secretly married in a courthouse ceremony so they could live together in married student housing in the Fall. The “family secret” was exposed just a few years ago when one of them slipped about their “real” anniversary. The family was thrilled with this story of unexpected rebellion that marked the beginning of a more than six-decade long love story. They had three children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. They lived in seven houses, six cities and four states.
Barbara was arguably the best mother in the world and is survived by her children Julie Spencer (Corey), John (Penny) and Steve (Martha). She loved her children, but let’s be honest, her grandchildren were the joys of her life. Jordan Spencer (Kelley) and Jenna Spencer, Shauna and Tyler (Kelsey) Lawrence, and Sarah Lawrence spent countless hours in “Grammy’s” basement plotting and teasing. Avery Spencer, or “my baby” as Grammy would say, arrived as the great granddaughter and realigned the favorites list.
Please note, the above names are not necessarily in order of favoritism, which is a constant debate but has never been fully resolved.
Barbara was an amazing wife and mother, but that was only a small part of her big personality. She devoted her career to the education and development of young children. She especially had a passion for working with special-needs children. She spent 9 years as a special education teacher at the Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Hospital (now named Britain Development of AdventHealth). She also served as Director for the Regional Access Program of Head Start and reviewed grant proposals for National Head Start. Her love of children, passion for education and dedication to fair democracy culminated in an opportunity to develop an early childhood education program in the newly formed Lithuania following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
After retiring, she certainly didn’t slow down. She spent countless hours watching her beloved grandchildren in gyms and on soccer fields, baseball fields, golf courses and dance stages. In Barbara’s eyes, each was always the best athlete and always underestimated by the coach. When she wasn’t being a doting-grandmother, she volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels, joined PEO and became president, and enjoyed her life-long interest in china painting. In her later years, she discovered social media and loved keeping track of friends and family on Facebook and Instagram, including following the granddaughter’s boyfriends to make sure they were up to par.
Barbara was the pillar of the family and the light of our lives. She taught us how to love and laugh and will be missed beyond words. We take comfort in knowing she is keeping close tabs on us. Please toast Barbara with a venti cup of Starbucks iced tea (The Barbara Special: half black, half green, no water, no sugar, no shaking). God bless you, Barbara.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life service followed by a reception
Friday, May 21, 2021
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (service begins at 10:00 am)
Lake Quivira Country Club
100 Crescent Blvd.
Lake Quivira, KS 66217
All are welcome, but we understand if you’re not able to attend. We know you will be with us in spirit.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Barbara’s memory to:
AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission
Attn: Britain Development Fund
7315 E. Frontage Road, Ste 221
Merriam, KS 66204
AdventHealthKC.org/Foundation.
PEO Educational Scholarship Fund
Make checks payable to: PEO Chapter FN
Attn: Susan Miller
8336 West 102nd Street
Overland Park, KS 66212
Service
Start Date: May 21, 2021, 10:00 am
End Date: May 21, 2021, 12:00 am
Lake Quivira Country Club
100 Crescent Blvd.
Lake Quivira, KS 66217
Barbara was born July 6, 1938 in Catskill, New York. She was the first child of John and Winifred Costello (preceded in death). She had two siblings and relished memories of growing up with Pat Tantillo and John Costello (Pam). She attended Rush Henrietta Central School with 55 other classmates and made a point of attending as many class reunions as possible. Barbara earned her BA in Early Childhood Education and Home Economics from Michigan State University. She was a member and president of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. During her sophomore year she met the love of her life Harold (Hal) Lawrence.
Barbara and Hal met on a blind date and quickly became inseparable. Before they returned home for summer break, Barbara and Hal were secretly married in a courthouse ceremony so they could live together in married student housing in the Fall. The “family secret” was exposed just a few years ago when one of them slipped about their “real” anniversary. The family was thrilled with this story of unexpected rebellion that marked the beginning of a more than six-decade long love story. They had three children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. They lived in seven houses, six cities and four states.
Barbara was arguably the best mother in the world and is survived by her children Julie Spencer (Corey), John (Penny) and Steve (Martha). She loved her children, but let’s be honest, her grandchildren were the joys of her life. Jordan Spencer (Kelley) and Jenna Spencer, Shauna and Tyler (Kelsey) Lawrence, and Sarah Lawrence spent countless hours in “Grammy’s” basement plotting and teasing. Avery Spencer, or “my baby” as Grammy would say, arrived as the great granddaughter and realigned the favorites list.
Please note, the above names are not necessarily in order of favoritism, which is a constant debate but has never been fully resolved.
Barbara was an amazing wife and mother, but that was only a small part of her big personality. She devoted her career to the education and development of young children. She especially had a passion for working with special-needs children. She spent 9 years as a special education teacher at the Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Hospital (now named Britain Development of AdventHealth). She also served as Director for the Regional Access Program of Head Start and reviewed grant proposals for National Head Start. Her love of children, passion for education and dedication to fair democracy culminated in an opportunity to develop an early childhood education program in the newly formed Lithuania following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
After retiring, she certainly didn’t slow down. She spent countless hours watching her beloved grandchildren in gyms and on soccer fields, baseball fields, golf courses and dance stages. In Barbara’s eyes, each was always the best athlete and always underestimated by the coach. When she wasn’t being a doting-grandmother, she volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels, joined PEO and became president, and enjoyed her life-long interest in china painting. In her later years, she discovered social media and loved keeping track of friends and family on Facebook and Instagram, including following the granddaughter’s boyfriends to make sure they were up to par.
Barbara was the pillar of the family and the light of our lives. She taught us how to love and laugh and will be missed beyond words. We take comfort in knowing she is keeping close tabs on us. Please toast Barbara with a venti cup of Starbucks iced tea (The Barbara Special: half black, half green, no water, no sugar, no shaking). God bless you, Barbara.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life service followed by a reception
Friday, May 21, 2021
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (service begins at 10:00 am)
Lake Quivira Country Club
100 Crescent Blvd.
Lake Quivira, KS 66217
All are welcome, but we understand if you’re not able to attend. We know you will be with us in spirit.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Barbara’s memory to:
AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission
Attn: Britain Development Fund
7315 E. Frontage Road, Ste 221
Merriam, KS 66204
AdventHealthKC.org/Foundation.
PEO Educational Scholarship Fund
Make checks payable to: PEO Chapter FN
Attn: Susan Miller
8336 West 102nd Street
Overland Park, KS 66212
Events
Service
Start Date: May 21, 2021, 10:00 am
End Date: May 21, 2021, 12:00 am
Lake Quivira Country Club
100 Crescent Blvd.
Lake Quivira, KS 66217
Guestbook
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