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Services
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, July 7, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 AM Friday, July 8, 2016 from the funeral home then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne where a 10:30 AM Mass will be offered.
Rosemarie “Rosie” Russo, age 79, of Wanaque, passed away peacefully with loving family by her side on Monday, July 4, 2016.
Born and raised in Paterson, where she attended Eastside High School, she had been a resident of Fair Lawn, Hawthorne and Wayne before moving to Wanaque in 2007.
When Rosie was growing up in Paterson, the city always had a real sense of community feeling to it. She’d regularly get together with the kids that grew up in the neighboring homes. One of those kids was a young boy named James “Jimmy” Russo. For Jim it was love at first sight! They would often-times get together and maybe see a movie. Over time Rosie’s love for Jim caught up with his love for her. One could say that their first official date was with friends Joe and Mary when Rosie was fourteen and Jimmy was sixteen. The four of them went for a ride in Jim’s 1936 Dodge which had a rumble seat in the back. It didn’t quite work out the way Jim hoped as Rosie and Mary ended up sitting in the back in the rumble seat while he really wanted Rosie sitting next to him in the front seat. It must have all worked out in the end though. Rosie and Jim ultimately tied the knot on Saturday, April 3, 1954 at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson. After the ceremony and reception, they took a road trip to Washington DC in their 1948 Chevy convertible. Upon their return, their first official home was in Fair Lawn in a home with Jim’s parents.
Blessed with three healthy baby boys, Rosie settled comfortably into the role of full-time mom and homemaker. She gave her boys a wonderful environment to grow up in. Always showing her love and affection, she was the best wife and mother anyone could ask for. Her family benefitted from her many talents, one of the best being her great ability to cook and bake delicious food and desserts for them. The boys especially loved Mom’s lasagna, manicotti, and meatballs, and every Friday night was home-made pizza night. Everyone enjoyed watching Rosie and her mother-in-law as they skillfully made cavatelli, and the memory of the delicious aroma of fresh-baked bread wafting through the house will be recalled for the rest of their lives by those who got to enjoy a slice or two. For dessert, everyone’s favorite was Rosie’s Grandma cookie, Italian cheese cake, and chocolate cream pie and the boys will always remember how she’d say, “Don’t touch that pie until your father gets home!” As the family grew older and the boys married, they always had a sense that coming home for a visit was welcomed. She loved it when they called and asked if they could stop by with their family. Give her about an hour and you could be sure that when you arrived, you’d be greeted with a kiss and a delicious meal complete with dessert. Nothing made Rosie happier than having her family gather at her home for the holidays and enjoying her boys talking and laughing while she cooked all their favorites like Easter pizzagaina and Christmas struffoli and Christmas sfogliatella.
Rosie was also a skilled seamstress, who could take the beautiful material her husband could bring home from his job in the Paterson dye houses, and turn that material into a beautiful dress or nice curtains to decorate the house with.
When her boys were old enough, Rosie took various jobs – first working part-time at a local bakery in Fair Lawn on River Road and selling Avon and B-Line products in the evening. She later worked for Shop-Rite and then Rockaway Sales, all in Fair Lawn. When Rockaway Sales closed Rosie went to the local Fair Lawn Pathmark food store. They hired her and never regretted it for the next twenty years. Rosie held the position of front-end manager and earned a great reputation as a hard-working dependable employee that became beloved by her co-workers and customers. Everyone was sad to see her go when she decided to retire in 1999.
After retirement, Rosie and Jimmy got to spend some good times together. They especially loved traveling and took three trips to Italy as well as an Alaskan cruise and visits through England, France, Switzerland, Hawaii and Alaska. One of Rosie’s greatest joys was the blessing of grandchildren. She especially enjoyed spoiling them and she had a great trip to Disney World with her son Jimmy and grandson Richie. Babysitting was never a chore but more of a delight for Grandma Russo. There was always an open invitation to come to her home on Sundays for lunch and when the grandkids came, to Rosie, it just made it that much more special. When she began to suffer from the early on-set of Alzheimer’s in 2005, she lamented on how much she was going to miss the enjoyment of her grandchildren.
Always happy, it seemed Rosie had a permanent smile. Her family held the place of highest esteem and she would always have time for you. Rosie was a great listener if you needed a listening ear and her sense of hospitality never took a vacation.
Surviving are Rosemarie’s beloved husband of 62 years, James: three sons: Richard and wife Lisa Russo of Dumont, James G. and wife Kathleen Russo of Wayne, and John and wife Sharon Russo of Wayne; nine grandchildren: Richard, Kimberly, Kevin and wife Christina, James Jr., Michael, Anthony, Steven, John Michael, and Abigail; and her brother Anthony and wife Irene Bruno. She was predeceased by her great-granddaughter Faith Catherine in 2015.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Rosemarie’s name are asked to consider Alzheimer’s NJ, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, July 7, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 AM Friday, July 8, 2016 from the funeral home then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne where a 10:30 AM Mass will be offered.
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, July 7, 2016 from 4-8 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 AM Friday, July 8, 2016 from the funeral home then to Immaculate Heart of Mary R.C. Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne where a 10:30 AM Mass will be offered.
Rosemarie “Rosie” Russo, age 79, of Wanaque, passed away peacefully with loving family by her side on Monday, July 4, 2016.
Born and raised in Paterson, where she attended Eastside High School, she had been a resident of Fair Lawn, Hawthorne and Wayne before moving to Wanaque in 2007.
When Rosie was growing up in Paterson, the city always had a real sense of community feeling to it. She’d regularly get together with the kids that grew up in the neighboring homes. One of those kids was a young boy named James “Jimmy” Russo. For Jim it was love at first sight! They would often-times get together and maybe see a movie. Over time Rosie’s love for Jim caught up with his love for her. One could say that their first official date was with friends Joe and Mary when Rosie was fourteen and Jimmy was sixteen. The four of them went for a ride in Jim’s 1936 Dodge which had a rumble seat in the back. It didn’t quite work out the way Jim hoped as Rosie and Mary ended up sitting in the back in the rumble seat while he really wanted Rosie sitting next to him in the front seat. It must have all worked out in the end though. Rosie and Jim ultimately tied the knot on Saturday, April 3, 1954 at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson. After the ceremony and reception, they took a road trip to Washington DC in their 1948 Chevy convertible. Upon their return, their first official home was in Fair Lawn in a home with Jim’s parents.
Blessed with three healthy baby boys, Rosie settled comfortably into the role of full-time mom and homemaker. She gave her boys a wonderful environment to grow up in. Always showing her love and affection, she was the best wife and mother anyone could ask for. Her family benefitted from her many talents, one of the best being her great ability to cook and bake delicious food and desserts for them. The boys especially loved Mom’s lasagna, manicotti, and meatballs, and every Friday night was home-made pizza night. Everyone enjoyed watching Rosie and her mother-in-law as they skillfully made cavatelli, and the memory of the delicious aroma of fresh-baked bread wafting through the house will be recalled for the rest of their lives by those who got to enjoy a slice or two. For dessert, everyone’s favorite was Rosie’s Grandma cookie, Italian cheese cake, and chocolate cream pie and the boys will always remember how she’d say, “Don’t touch that pie until your father gets home!” As the family grew older and the boys married, they always had a sense that coming home for a visit was welcomed. She loved it when they called and asked if they could stop by with their family. Give her about an hour and you could be sure that when you arrived, you’d be greeted with a kiss and a delicious meal complete with dessert. Nothing made Rosie happier than having her family gather at her home for the holidays and enjoying her boys talking and laughing while she cooked all their favorites like Easter pizzagaina and Christmas struffoli and Christmas sfogliatella.
Rosie was also a skilled seamstress, who could take the beautiful material her husband could bring home from his job in the Paterson dye houses, and turn that material into a beautiful dress or nice curtains to decorate the house with.
When her boys were old enough, Rosie took various jobs – first working part-time at a local bakery in Fair Lawn on River Road and selling Avon and B-Line products in the evening. She later worked for Shop-Rite and then Rockaway Sales, all in Fair Lawn. When Rockaway Sales closed Rosie went to the local Fair Lawn Pathmark food store. They hired her and never regretted it for the next twenty years. Rosie held the position of front-end manager and earned a great reputation as a hard-working dependable employee that became beloved by her co-workers and customers. Everyone was sad to see her go when she decided to retire in 1999.
After retirement, Rosie and Jimmy got to spend some good times together. They especially loved traveling and took three trips to Italy as well as an Alaskan cruise and visits through England, France, Switzerland, Hawaii and Alaska. One of Rosie’s greatest joys was the blessing of grandchildren. She especially enjoyed spoiling them and she had a great trip to Disney World with her son Jimmy and grandson Richie. Babysitting was never a chore but more of a delight for Grandma Russo. There was always an open invitation to come to her home on Sundays for lunch and when the grandkids came, to Rosie, it just made it that much more special. When she began to suffer from the early on-set of Alzheimer’s in 2005, she lamented on how much she was going to miss the enjoyment of her grandchildren.
Always happy, it seemed Rosie had a permanent smile. Her family held the place of highest esteem and she would always have time for you. Rosie was a great listener if you needed a listening ear and her sense of hospitality never took a vacation.
Surviving are Rosemarie’s beloved husband of 62 years, James: three sons: Richard and wife Lisa Russo of Dumont, James G. and wife Kathleen Russo of Wayne, and John and wife Sharon Russo of Wayne; nine grandchildren: Richard, Kimberly, Kevin and wife Christina, James Jr., Michael, Anthony, Steven, John Michael, and Abigail; and her brother Anthony and wife Irene Bruno. She was predeceased by her great-granddaughter Faith Catherine in 2015.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Rosemarie’s name are asked to consider Alzheimer’s NJ, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834.
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