Jennifer Costello McBride
July 13, 1966 – March 26, 2025

Jennifer Lynn Marie Costello McBride was born to loving parents Ellen and Bernard Costello, the youngest of four, the baby of the family. She spent her earlier years in rural Ringoes, New Jersey, and in Princeton. With her siblings and friends, she played in the fields of East Amwell and rode horses in the summers, spending the winters sledding, ice skating, and playing cello and clarinet. She was a proud alum of The Hun School of Princeton, where she played lacrosse and field hockey. She graduated from The University of Chicago, where she rowed crew, including in the Head of the Charles Regatta, attended by her family on the banks.

After an early career in public relations and advertising, Jennifer attended the French Culinary Institute in New York City. Upon becoming a qualified French chef, she was immediately hired by the French Consulate to work on their events. She continued her
career in catering upon returning to Princeton.

Jennifer was a world traveler, which was facilitated by her ability to speak multiple languages. She safaried in Africa, trekked to the active volcano Cotopaxi in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, and climbed to Mount Everest base camp in Nepal, reaching
altitudes over 17,000 feet. She traveled all over Europe, often with her sister Maryellen, and countless times to Ireland to visit relatives. An avid skier, she skied the major slopes in the US, Canada and Europe. Special trips were to Kitzbuhel in Austria and Lake Louise and Mont-Sainte-Anne in Canada.

Gregarious and very social, she was a formidable trivia competitor on a local team with friends. She enjoyed attending concerts and participating in Irish cultural events. She believed in living life to the fullest.

Domestically, Jennifer was a cat lover and often rescued them and gave them a home.  She was able to fix things, from re-wiring old appliances to doing her own plumbing. She loved holidays, decorating for Halloween and putting up Christmas lights. She always put others before herself and was a devoted daughter to her parents, helping to care for them to the end. Jennifer was a most trusted sounding board for advice or a point of view, often hilarious.

It feels that Jennifer's time here has passed too quickly, that she had so much life left to live. Her brilliance, creativity, insight, wit, kindness and generosity are gone from this living world, living on in the memories and hearts of those who loved her. Indeed, "'twas Heaven here with you."

Jennifer is survived by her husband Sterling McBride, father Bernard Costello (Ellen, may God rest her soul); sisters Maryellen Costello and Kathleen Simpson (Scott, may God rest his soul), brother Bernard (Rachel) Costello, nieces Caitlin and Mairead
Simpson, nephew Victor Simpson, her extended family in Ecuador, many relatives and friends, and her cats Mathilda, Leonard and Perry.

Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.