Mary S. Costigan, 93, of Quincy died peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 5, 2023, at Blessing Hospital, surrounded by family, after a brief illness.
Mary Suzanne (Ensenberger) Costigan is survived by her husband of 69 years, David Costigan, of Quincy. Also surviving are sons Patrick of Maryland Heights, Missouri; Joseph (Nancy Cowles) of Oak Park, Illinois; Kevin, of Torrance, California; Michael (Mei) of San Pedro, California; and Paul (Nino La Madrid), of St. Louis, Missouri. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Born July 2, 1930, in Bloomington, Illinois, Mary, affectionately known by family and friends as “Puts”: was the daughter of H. Joseph and Irma (Litmer) Ensenberger. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother John (Jack), and a sister Elizabeth (Bets) Moore. Brother Joseph of Albuquerque, New Mexico, survives her.
Mary graduated in 1952 from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri. She and Dave were married on Aug. 21, 1954, in an early morning ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington.
She and Dave were generous to a fault with family and friends, and Mary found special pleasure spoiling grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the last three decades. She was beloved by members of her extended family.
Mary was outgoing and a consummate people-person who made friends easily. These qualities made her a top notch salesperson at the State Street Store.
She had a unfailing wit about her and also loved being able to share jokes that tickled her funny bone. She had a great and sometimes whimsical sense of fashion. Mary often wore clothes and earrings that could feature butterflies, ladybugs, and flowers.
Mary was a woman of many talents and interests; she was an avid reader and was an excellent cook with a special ability to create and improvise meals incorporating age-old family recipes. She had a natural affinity for gardening and growing flowers, and she marveled at the birds who gathered outside her window.
Mary had a love and passion for tennis. She achieved an impressive string of championships. Her first was in 1949 in Bloomington when she defeated her sister for the women’s singles title. In 1969, the mother of five sons claimed Quincy’s singles crown. She earned many of her tennis titles in women’s and mixed doubles over the years with countless partners. She was able to pass on her love of the game to her children and by giving tennis lessons to many Quincyans.
Mary had a lifelong love and partnership with her beloved husband David. She loved being together whether it was traveling, having dinner, attending mass daily, being with family or simply doing little things like Wordle every morning. Little things to Mary meant a lot her.
Dave and Mary have been parishioners for more than six decades at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, and they have been contributors over those years to the faith community at Quincy University. They grew in faith over the years, and they used that to face the joys and challenges of their life together. Despite many health and physical challenges over the decades, Mary never let those get the best of her.
Visitation for Mary Costigan will be Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Duker and Haugh Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at the Duker and Haugh Funeral Home followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Church. Interment in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations can be made to the David and Mary Costigan Scholarship fund at Quincy University benefiting students in financial need.