Joseph A. Costello, 79, of Hunlock Creek, passed away Friday, September 11th, 2026 at the Meadows Nursing Home, Dallas.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late James and Eleanor (Merlino) Costello. Joe was a 1965 graduate of Plains High School. Upon graduation, he joined the army and served our country for six years. After being honorably discharged, Joe went to work for Uniroyal as a mechanic. Then one day his future brother-in-law called him to open what is now 3 Guys Restaurant and Sports Bar. He was the co-owner of 3 Guys Restaurant and Sports Bar for over 50 years.

Joe had many loves in his life. He loved fishing, hunting, and had endless love for cars. He was a Mopar man through and through. He spent endless hours badgering Debbie to send him on far away hunting trips and to buy him his next collectible car. He had great pride in his cars. You would find him taking them to car shows, near and far, tinkering with them in the garage or waxing them. Many knew him not only from the restaurant, but also from seeing him at the local car shows and being the drummer in Marty and The Royal Aces. Not one person has a bad thing to say about Joe. Even at his worst, he showed everyone kindness.

In addition to his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by multiple aunts, uncles and cousins, brother-in-law, and business partner, Ronald Perlis.

Surviving are his loving and devoted wife of 50 years Debbie (Perlis); children, Nichele Nicholson and husband Andrew, Lake Silkworth; son, Joseph and his wife Amber, Dallas; grandchildren, Alli and Wyatt Nicholson and Nelia and Grant Costello; Business partner and brother-in-law, Mark Perlis (Tassie); sister-in-law, Maria Perlis; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 17th at 10:30am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 2011 SR Route 29, Hunlock Creek. Interment will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Lehman. Friends may call Wednesday from 5-7pm at Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Inc., 140 N. Main St., Shavertown. All are asked to go directly to church on day of service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St Jude’s Research Hospital and The Gift of Life.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff at the former Hahnemann hospital in Philadelphia for extending his life for 26 more years. He was the recipient of a heart transplant from a selfless donor and a kidney transplant from his daughter-in-law Amber. The family asks everybody to consider becoming an organ donor. They would also like to thank the staff at the Meadows in his final days with us.