Joseph Russo

Joseph “Joe” Russo, 75, of East Hartford, loving husband of over 47 years of Ada (Tammaro) Russo, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Friday, June 2, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center, Hartford. Born in Santa Margherita di Belice, province of Sicily, Italy on March 11, 1942, he was a son of the late Gaetano and Rosa (Abate) Russo and had been a resident of East Hartford since 1963. Prior to his retirement in 2004, Joseph was a dedicated employee for over 31 years for the town of East Hartford Board of Education in the Maintenance Department. Joe was a longtime member of the Mount Carmel - St. Cristina Society of Greater Hartford and was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox. Joe enjoyed playing cards and being outside working in his garden or playing bocce. Most of all Joe was a family man who was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, who received great joy spending time with his grandchildren.

In addition to his beloved wife Ada, Joe is survived by a son, Thomas “Tom” J. Russo and his wife, Beata, of South Windsor; a daughter, Rosanna Testa and her husband, Robert, of Tolland; two brothers, Peter Russo and his wife, Josephine, of South Windsor, Antonino “Tony” Russo and his wife, Patricia, of East Hartford; five adored grandchildren, Joseph Russo, Michael Russo, and Daniel Russo all of South Windsor, Frank Testa and Elisa Testa both of Tolland. He also leaves a brother-in-law, Angelo Tammaro of East Hampton; two sisters-in-law, Elisa DiPio and her husband, Orazio, of Italy, Matilde Zepedeo and her husband, Angelo, of British Columbia, Canada; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Besides his parents Joe was predeceased by four sisters-in-law, Nancy (Futtner) Tammaro of East Hampton, Giovanna Lombardi of New Jersey, Rosetta Palenza of East Hartford, Lucia Napoli of Italy; and a brother-in-law, Aldo Tammaro of East Hartford.

Funeral service will be Wednesday (June 7th) at 8:45 am from the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 673 Ellington Road, South Windsor. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, (Section A), East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Tuesday (June 6th) from 3-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joseph’s name may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.