Elizabeth D. Comley's Obituary
Elizabeth Ann Costill-Comley (69)
Pilesgrove, NJ
November 28, 2025
Elizabeth Ann Costill-Comley (69), of Pilesgrove, NJ, passed away on November 28, 2025, in Lewes, DE, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
“Little Lizzie” was born on July 13, 1956, in Washington, DC, to Sam and Elizabeth “Eileen” DeSimone. Liz grew up in Mickelton, NJ. If anyone was meant to be a mother, it was Liz. Besides being the oldest of seven children, while attending Kingsway Regional High School, she was awarded the Betty Crocker Homemakers of Tomorrow Award and later graduated with a degree in education from Glassboro State College.
However, she almost didn’t have this chance after being diagnosed with lupus in her late teens. It was suggested that she never have children of her own.
Despite this diagnosis, she married Kenneth Costill on April 11, 1980. Together, they built a life in Pilesgrove, NJ, raising their four children and running the Costill family farm.
Liz worked as an office manager for Costill Farms until her younger brother John opened DeSimone Law Offices in 1999. She was the firm’s first legal assistant and worked there for 18 years. Her father, a retired judge who helped with the practice, referred to her as “the voice of the office,” meaning that she was always pleasant and kind.
Even though Liz worked a full-time job, she never stopped advocating for children and caring for her loved ones, such as stopping by her parents’ home every morning to drop off dinner.
Outside of work, Liz loved cooking for a crowd, particularly her baked gnocchi and sausage and peppers. She was a devoted animal lover, successfully rescuing many dogs, cats, and chickens. She also loved traveling with her family. Her most memorable trips were vacationing in Greece and multiple visits to the DeSimone family home in Penne, Italy, with her grandparents, parents, siblings, and later her children.
Friends and family will remember Liz for her kindness and motherly warmth. She was considered a surrogate mother by all of her children’s friends. This maternal energy was repaid in full during the weeks leading to her passing, with her siblings and family showing up to care for her in her final days.
After losing her husband Kenneth in 2023, she remarried George Comley of Elmer, NJ, where she further shared her nurturing spirit by living on his farm and taking care of the horses, goats, and dogs.
After a lifetime of selflessness, we hope Liz can finally bask in the sun on the beach, reading her favorite James Patterson, Stephen King, and Tom Clancy novels.
Liz is survived by her husband, George; her children, Albert Costill, Veronica Costill, Katherine Elder, and Michael (Mattie) Costill; as well as her beloved grandchildren, Evelyn Hebert, Brandon Hebert, Alexander Barth, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Elder, Mable Costill, Liv Allegar, and Michael “Mikey” Costill.
Liz’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at H.T. Layton Funeral Home, 102 S. Main St., Woodstown, NJ 08098. This will include a visitation from 9:00 AM. to 11:00 AM, with a service from 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM. A luncheon will follow at Botto’s Italian Line Restaurant, 1411 Kings Hwy., Swedesboro, NJ 08085, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) in Liz’s memory.
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