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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. A Funeral Service will take place during visitation time, beginning at 8:00 PM.
Bernice D. Russell, “Bea” age 91 of Pompton Plains and formerly of the Pines Lake section of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Her loving family was close by her side at the time of her passing.
Born in the Bronx, NY, she was raised in South Paterson and she graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1941. After graduating, Bea worked briefly for the telephone company.
Bea was the loving wife of Charles Russell. Like many young couples who married during World War II, their wedding was beautiful but the honeymoon was extremely short because Charlie had to return to service to his country as a member of the U.S. Army, serving in Normandy on D-Day.
After the war, Charlie returned and he and Bea settled into their first home together in South Paterson. They lived there until moving to the Pines Lake section of Wayne in 1957. There, for the most part, they raised their two daughters, Dianne and Joanne. They positively loved Pines Lake because of its wonderful community spirit. They developed many lasting friendships while living there, attending family picnics and parties – including some awesome costume parties, and being members of the Pines Lake Bowling League.
After Bea’s daughters were old enough, she returned to the workplace taking various jobs, the most recent being a payroll clerk with GAF Corporation of Wayne.
When she had free time, Bea especially enjoyed volunteering at Wayne General Hospital, bringing patients a magazine, talking with them, or just helping to cheer them up in whatever way she could. Her grandson Ryan always told everyone that she was the head nurse at the hospital. She also spent as much time as she could down at the Pines Lake Beach, soaking in the sun and socializing with her friends.
Bea and Charlie loved to travel and Bea continued to travel after Charlie passed away in 2000. In 2011, after over fifty years in Pines Lake, Bea moved into her own place at Cedar Crest Village. She continued to travel as long as she could, even driving alone with a friend once to Myrtle Beach when she was in her mid-eighties!
Bea is survived by her two dear daughters: Dianne and husband Robert Higgins and Joanne McCammon, both of Wayne: five cherished grandchildren: Scott, Stacey, Ryan, Kyle and Shea; her adored great-grandson Dylan; and her nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Charles in 2000 and her sister Rosalie Yakal.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Bea’s name are asked to consider giving to a charity of their choice.
Bea will be laid to rest in the Ramapo Reformed Church Cemetery in Mahwah. This is especially meaningful to her family for two reasons. First: this cemetery is very close to the house where Bea’s ancestors lived for over 150 years – the Goetschius family. This pre-revolutionary house, which dates back to as far as 1713, is known today as the Hopper-Goetschius house and it’s the oldest house in Upper Saddle River. It presently serves as a museum run by the Upper Saddle River Historical Society. Bea’s great-grandfather, Rev. Stephen Goetschius of the Old Stone Church in Upper Saddle River, purchased the home from the Hopper family in 1814. Second, the Ramapo Reformed Church Cemetery is especially meaningful to Bea’s family because her great-grandfather, Rev. Stephen Goetschius is also buried in this cemetery, just to the left of the front of the church.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. A Funeral Service will take place during visitation time, beginning at 8:00 PM.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. A Funeral Service will take place during visitation time, beginning at 8:00 PM.
Bernice D. Russell, “Bea” age 91 of Pompton Plains and formerly of the Pines Lake section of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Her loving family was close by her side at the time of her passing.
Born in the Bronx, NY, she was raised in South Paterson and she graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1941. After graduating, Bea worked briefly for the telephone company.
Bea was the loving wife of Charles Russell. Like many young couples who married during World War II, their wedding was beautiful but the honeymoon was extremely short because Charlie had to return to service to his country as a member of the U.S. Army, serving in Normandy on D-Day.
After the war, Charlie returned and he and Bea settled into their first home together in South Paterson. They lived there until moving to the Pines Lake section of Wayne in 1957. There, for the most part, they raised their two daughters, Dianne and Joanne. They positively loved Pines Lake because of its wonderful community spirit. They developed many lasting friendships while living there, attending family picnics and parties – including some awesome costume parties, and being members of the Pines Lake Bowling League.
After Bea’s daughters were old enough, she returned to the workplace taking various jobs, the most recent being a payroll clerk with GAF Corporation of Wayne.
When she had free time, Bea especially enjoyed volunteering at Wayne General Hospital, bringing patients a magazine, talking with them, or just helping to cheer them up in whatever way she could. Her grandson Ryan always told everyone that she was the head nurse at the hospital. She also spent as much time as she could down at the Pines Lake Beach, soaking in the sun and socializing with her friends.
Bea and Charlie loved to travel and Bea continued to travel after Charlie passed away in 2000. In 2011, after over fifty years in Pines Lake, Bea moved into her own place at Cedar Crest Village. She continued to travel as long as she could, even driving alone with a friend once to Myrtle Beach when she was in her mid-eighties!
Bea is survived by her two dear daughters: Dianne and husband Robert Higgins and Joanne McCammon, both of Wayne: five cherished grandchildren: Scott, Stacey, Ryan, Kyle and Shea; her adored great-grandson Dylan; and her nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Charles in 2000 and her sister Rosalie Yakal.
Those planning an expression of sympathy in Bea’s name are asked to consider giving to a charity of their choice.
Bea will be laid to rest in the Ramapo Reformed Church Cemetery in Mahwah. This is especially meaningful to her family for two reasons. First: this cemetery is very close to the house where Bea’s ancestors lived for over 150 years – the Goetschius family. This pre-revolutionary house, which dates back to as far as 1713, is known today as the Hopper-Goetschius house and it’s the oldest house in Upper Saddle River. It presently serves as a museum run by the Upper Saddle River Historical Society. Bea’s great-grandfather, Rev. Stephen Goetschius of the Old Stone Church in Upper Saddle River, purchased the home from the Hopper family in 1814. Second, the Ramapo Reformed Church Cemetery is especially meaningful to Bea’s family because her great-grandfather, Rev. Stephen Goetschius is also buried in this cemetery, just to the left of the front of the church.
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