Father Patrick Curtin Costello was the first priest of St Patrick's Catholic church to die in office, 7 December 1912. Born in Ireland, he first came to New Zealand in 1882 and after various postings arrived in Palmerston North in 1905. The funeral procession was said to be very impressive and proceeded from St Patrick's, down Broad Street to The Square, along to the Post Office and up Main Street to the cemetery at Terrace End.