Mary Ellen Costanzo

 Mary Ellen Costanzo, 75, of Gladstone, Oregon, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on May 1, 2025.   

Mary Ellen was born on July 8, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late James and Ruth Kelly. She was raised in the Govans neighborhood of Baltimore and attended St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School before graduating from the Institute of Notre Dame in 1967.

Mary Ellen met her husband, Douglas Costanzo, through friends and, in 1969, decided to make the move to Doug’s hometown of Milwaukie, Oregon. They married in July 1970 and soon settled in Gladstone, where they lived for 55 years in a home Doug built.

Mary Ellen was a true Baltimore girl at heart. Her birthdays were often celebrated with authentic East Coast crab feeds—bushels of blue crabs shipped to Oregon on dry ice and smothered in Old Bay seasoning, just the way she liked.

She began her five-decade career as a legal assistant working for her uncle, Frank Gallagher, an attorney for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. After moving to Portland, she worked for three different law firms before retiring. Having left a large family behind in Baltimore, the friends she made through her work became family to her—lifelong companions who supported her through every chapter of life.

As a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary Ellen was the heart and soul of the Costanzo family. Her kitchen was the setting for her legendary Sunday dinners, holiday celebrations, and spontaneous family gatherings. She never missed a moment in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives—always present at recitals, games, and milestones with her unwavering support and love.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Douglas Costanzo; her daughters, Laura Firkus, Carrie Hertzler, and Angelina Mathews; and six adored grandchildren: Zach, Luke, Leah, Logan, Camryn, and Robert. Her legacy of warmth, strength, and joyful tradition will live on in all who knew and loved her.

A funeral service will be held at St. John the Apostle Church in Oregon City on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 11:00am (Rosary at 10:30) with a reception to follow immediately afterward.