John A. Russo

John A. Russo, age 96 of West Palm Beach, Florida and formerly of Wayne, New Jersey passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2022.

He was born in Casa del Conte, Italy to Pasquale and Angelina Russo. John was raised there until his father, who had immigrated to the United States and settled in Paterson, NJ called for him.  At the age of fourteen he was placed into steerage for the thirty day journey across the ocean.  His father picked him up in New York City and he too settled into life in Paterson.  He graduated from School #10 in Paterson and that is where he met his future wife Frances Eleanor Farnese as she was his best friend’s sister.

John served in the US Army during WWII from November 18, 1943 through April 10, 1946.  He served in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Central Europe, and Rhineland having received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal before being honorably discharged as a Private First Class.

John married his sweetheart Frances Farnese on October 26, 1947 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Paterson and honeymooned at Niagara Falls, New York. John and Frances started their family in Paterson and moved to Wayne where they raised their three children. They had a loving and devoted marriage of 71 years before Frances’ passing in 2018.  Their marriage was blessed with three children Angela, Joanne, and John.

John’s first job was working at a local dry cleaners in Paterson.  He founded Russo Brothers Contracting Company Inc., a drywall company in Paterson. John officially retired in 1979 and moved to North Palm Beach, Florida.  

Locally John gave back to his community and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and UNICO. He was an avid golfer and for many years he bowled in the leagues at T-Bowl Lanes in Wayne. Family trips to Wildwood, Coney Island, and Florida- so he could golf- where many fond family memories were made.  He will be remembered for doing what he wanted, when he wanted, and living life to the fullest.  He was truly blessed to have a great life.

John was the loving husband of Frances (Farnese) Russo (d. 2018); loving father of Angela Scelba and her husband Charles of Totowa, Joanne Jablonski and her husband William of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and John P. Russo and his wife Kathleen also of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; he was the cherished grandfather of Marsha Jablonski, Anthony Scelba and his wife Lynn, Melissa Sun, Ariana Adamo and her husband Thomas, John P. Russo and his wife Lisa, Jennifer Taylor and her husband Carl; he was the dearly loved great-grandfather of Nicholas, Evan, Ben, Dominic, Aiden, Damian, Christian, Austin, Jonas, Eve, and Lilly Rose; he was the loved brother of Maria Giannella and her husband Fred, and the late Attillio Russo and the late Ralph Russo. John will be dearly missed by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.