Wendy Lawler Russo

Wendy L. Russo, 63

SCARBOROUGH – Wendy L. Russo, 63, of Falmouth, passed away on April 26, 2012, surrounded by her family at Gosnell Memorial Hospice following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on September 1, 1948 in Portland, daughter of Doris and Alton Lawler and attended Portland schools.

In 1970, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Art Education at the University of Southern Maine and married her long-time sweetheart, Anthony P. Russo. She moved to Gulfport, Mississippi, in August 1970 where her husband served in the United States Seabees, and taught high school art for three years. In 1973, the couple returned home to Maine, where they built a beautiful home in Falmouth.

After a brief hiatus to stay home and raise her children, she returned to teaching art at Longfellow Elementary School in Portland and eventually transferred to Lyseth Elementary School in 1980. She finished her teaching career at Deering High School where she influenced the lives of many young adults who shared her passion for art. She was nominated for Maine Teacher of the Year in 1983, and won the Maine Art Educator of the Year in 1990.

Aside from being a talented artist and teacher, she loved to travel and spend time with her beloved family and friends, and will always be remembered for her amazing sense of humor and passion for life.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Anthony P. Russo of Falmouth; her son, Alton Russo and his wife Sarah of Gorham, her daughter Amber Donatello and her husband Todd Donatello of Falmouth; her brother, Richard S. Lawler and his wife Lucia of Merrimack, N.H.; her niece, Karin Duchesne, her husband Doug and daughters Danielle, Rebecca, and Monique of Nashua, N.H.; and three grandchildren, Evan, Aubrey, and Connor.

Relatives and friends are invited for a time of visitation on Tuesday May 1, 2012

from 4-8 p.m. at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. A celebration of Wendy’s life will be held Wednesday May 2, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Jon Twitchell officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Portland. If so desired, contributions may be to Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, 100 Campus Drive, Suite 108, Scarborough, ME 04074-9308. For additional information and to sign Wendy’s guestbook please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com.