Obituary of Mary P. Russo

The great matriarch and a legend in our eyes, Mary P. Russo passed away this Saturday February 25th, 2023, in the warmth of her own home, surrounded by her family, their love and the sounds of Frank Sinatra. She was 98 years old with a whole a lot of life and love under her belt. She was born and raised in Union City, New Jersey, to Nicholas and Pauline Olivo. She was one of six children. Amelia DeSimone, Ida Coppola, Ann Rocco, Patrick Papa, and Larry Olivo. Her siblings meant the world to her. During World War II she worked at General Motors in Ewing, building airplanes, which is where she met the great love of her life, James M. Russo. They moved to Lawrenceville, NJ after marrying and began to live life and grow their family tree. She is survived by her children, Paula Paulsson (late husband Martin Paulsson), Rosemarie Monteleone (husband John Monteleone). Anita Pulaski (husband Craig Pulaski), Jami Jakubisin (husband Ron Jakubisin), Larry Russo (wife Vicki Russo), as well her beloved 13 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was a longtime parishioner at The Church of St. Ann in Lawrenceville, where she almost never missed a Sunday or midnight Christmas mass. She was a member of the American Legion Ladies, Auxiliary Post 414. Besides raising a family, she retired as a dedicated employee of Fashion Bug after 35 years of commitment. Although she never had much of a formal education, she was one of the smartest woman you would ever meet. This added to her charm. Mary Russo, our leader, was something else, one of her kind. She broke the mold with her spunky nature and turbo energy. You couldn’t keep up with her. In her running laps around you she would refuel with coffee and desserts. She was for sure in agreement with “leave the gun, take cannoli.” It wasn’t until the pandemic that changed the social norms that we once all lived by that led to her mind and body slowing down. Her stubbornness was her strength and her sweetness cast a net so wide that people beyond her family and friends sought safe haven and lovingly cooked meals in her home. This great woman rarely sat down as she always was of selfless service to those she loved. She raised a village and kept the family glued together. Without question you would enter her home and first thing she would say, “You hungry? You eat anything today? Here let me heat you up some – fill in the blank—.” She wanted everyone to be happy and leave with a full stomach. Food, Faith, and scratch offs were her love language. Family was her everything. We will all miss gathering at her dining room table being fed homemade Italian meatballs, soups, cookies, and the overall sense her whizzing around you in the kitchen being the queen of hospitality in her happy place. Being in her company was home to most of us. Her warmth was a North Star that her children and grandchildren gravitated towards. Besides her family she found great joy in friendly games. She was the family scrabble champion, a slot machine enthusiast, a bingo aficionado (any excuse to spend time with family and friends, oh and to WIN.) She loved the tradition of Friday night card games of Pinochle and Rummy. She kept sharp through her mastery of crosswords and puzzles. She would dance everywhere and anywhere, being the cute life of the party. We still remember fondly her and her husband dancing sweetly in their kitchen to Frank Sinatra or Frankie Valli. She was a pizza connoisseur and would drive far and wide for her perfect slice. She surprisingly loved horror movies and would have horror movie marathons that we reluctantly watched beside her. Her afternoon soap operas were sacred times where silence was of the upmost importance. We were given more freedom to be loud when Golden Girls or Price is Right would come on. She was a lover of all animals; dogs, cats, and even fed the squirrels. She saved injured robins and ducks, eventually becoming outside family pets. The duck and robin even earned rations of her beloved home cooking. She was everyone’s favorite food critic, like our own petite and extra sassy Anthony Bourdain as she frequented her revered New Jersey diners. One of her unbreakable rituals was speeding to the diner after Sunday mass to make sure we all would get seats before the rush would happen. Her epic adventures through Atlantic City, New York City and Las Vegas with her children and grandchildren created stories that will be told for generations. Her travel highlights included riding a camel and seeing the tomb where Jesus laid to rest in Israel and meeting her TV crush Mario Lopez, while filming Dancing with the Stars which she went to live three times. Mary loved her musicals and watching dancing performances. She must have watched Sound of Music, Jersey Boys, and White Christmas countless times. She never left the house with a hair out of place, or an adorning angel pin not tacked on to her blouse. She really did light up every room she entered. She knew how to live, and she knew how to smile. Mary Russo was a magical force that will be missed greatly. Words will never be able to measure our loss, but we are thankful for the many beautiful and vivacious years she gifted us and are overwhelmingly blessed that we were loved by her. We are eternally grateful to all those that contributed care and support during the most difficult times in the last year. We all will seek peace in our memories, and this will keep her light and legacy burning. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday March 4th, 2023, at 10:00 am at The Church of St. Ann. 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Entombment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton New Jersey Visitation services will be held Friday evening from 5-8pm and again on Saturday morning from 8:15- 9:15am at Poulson Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. American Legion Post #414 will be conducted Friday at 7:00pm. Memorial Donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s hospital www.stjude.org