Carmela Milly Russo

Carmela Russo, a resident of Copiague, L.I. for over 60 years, passed on Thursday, June 13th, at the age of 87 years. Milly, as she was known to all who love her, was born in Brooklyn to her late parents, Frank and Louisa (nee Scarzella) Gaudioso, immigrants from Italy. She was raised and grew up here. Around the early 50’s, a young man by the name of Vincent James Russo took notice of young Milly on the subway. He was persistent in getting to meet her, and they soon began to date. Friendship blossomed into their love and they married on September 12, 1953, the date when Jackie and John F. Kennedy’s anniversary. Milly and Vinny made their first home in Brooklyn, but in the late 1950’s they moved out to Copiague, where their very first and lifelong home was built by Milly’s father, Frank Gaudioso. Here is where they raised their children. Vinny passed very early in their marriage. Milly continued to raise their family in the house they built with love. In her years of work as a young woman, Milly worked as an X-ray technician. She then stopped to raise her children, and then returned later to the workforce, as a Dark Room Technician for Medical Arts Radiology in Bay Shore. Milly was an avid reader and bowler as well. She loved to knit and crochet personal items and blankets for her family. She loved to travel – having visited not only California and their winter home in Florida, but also to distance places such as Costa Rica, St. Maarten and the Caribbean. Her children say that their Mom was devoted to her family – she watched her cherished grandchildren when her own kids had to work; but attended every celebration, milestone and sporting event that she could. Her grandchildren will always cherish the “candy parties’ that Grandma hosted. All of her family hold dear the remembrance of the impact that their beloved mom and grandmother had on all of their lives. Family and friends will gather at the D’Andrea Bros. Funeral Home on Monday, June 17th, from 2-4:30 and 7-9:30 p.m. During the evening hours, the Wake Service will be offerd by Deacon Michael Appel. On Tuesday, June 18th, the Funeral Mass will be offered at 9:45 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption R.C. Church in Copiague. Interment will follow at Trinity Cemetery in Amityville at 11:30 a.m.