Grace Jean Russell

Born in September 1934, to Arthur A. Collard and Grace A. Collard (McGuire), in Summit, NJ, Grace “Jean” also lived in North Haledon, Tenafly, Leonia, Toms River, Voorhees, Edison and most recently at Parker at Somerset in Somerset, NJ.

Jean graduated from Averett College in Danville, VA and attended Columbia University School of Nursing in New York, NY.

In the summer of 1956 Jean traveled to Guatemala where her father, a civil engineer, was building roads and bridges. She was sent home on Labor Day weekend to visit her Aunt and Uncle at the Bey Lea dairy farm in Toms River. When she arrived, she met the love of her life Marcus H. Russell (also a civil engineer), who proposed three days later. They were married in January 1957 and spent 55 happy years together raising their three children, Margaret, Barbara, and Marcus Jr.

Jean was a loving mother, wife, and homemaker. She was also a Sunday school teacher, literacy volunteer, and tutor to children in Camden. She was also a licensed real estate agent.

Jean’s legacy is not just her children, grandchildren, and as she would say, “five, count them, FIVE great grandchildren,” it is the positive impact she had on so many lives. She was an incredibly positive person who met every day with purpose. Even at the end of her life Jean was known to say “if my eyes opened this morning, the Lord has a purpose for me, so I have to make the most of it.”

Now, at last, she will be reunited with her husband who she missed so very much.

Jean will be dearly missed by her brother Arthur A Collard, who she adored, her children, Margaret R. Havener, Barbara J. Alec, and Marcus H. Russell, Jr.; her son-in-law Michael Alec; her grandchildren, Christopher Havener, Matthew Havener, Cara Havener, and William Alec; their spouses Siobhan Havener, Kimberly Havener and Olena Alec; and five great grandchildren of whom she was very proud. She also leaves behind a niece, nephews, and many cousins.

Grace was preceded in death by her son-in-law Michael Havener, her sister-in-law, Helen A Collard, and her beloved husband Marcus H Russell, who she will be laid to rest beside at Riverside Cemetery in Toms River, NJ. Services will be held at a later date.

Donations in Jean’s memory can be made to St. Peter’s University Hospital (New Brunswick, NJ - https://www.saintpetershcs.com/Donate), Literacy Volunteers of Camden County (https://www.camdencountylibrary.org/literacy-contact), or Parker at Somerset (15 Dellwood Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 – [email protected])