Teresa L. Russell Obituary
Teresa Lenore (Silvestro) Russell, of Gloucester and Middleton, formerly of Medford, peacefully on Feb. 7. Preceded in eternal life by her husband, William Arthur Russell, her greatest love and hero, and their beautiful daughter Rita (Rosensweig) of Atlanta. Loving and devoted mother and mother-in-law to William of Revere, Linda and Paul Dudek of Haverhill, Jeffrey Rosensweig of Atlanta, Maria and Turgut Cakiraga of Placentia, CA, Joanne of Melrose Park, PA, Richard and Donnagene Russell of Melrose, and Robert and Judy Conley of Middleton. Proudest grandmother to Maria (Lance Escher), William, Edward, John, Rose, Luke, Serena, Xavier, Lily and Hayden and great-grandmother to Ellie, Annie, and Katie Escher.
Born in Boston, July 25, 1929, the youngest child of Leonarda and Giovanni Silvestro, Teresa graduated from Medford High School 1947, where she was a member of the girls' basketball team, class officer, and sorority president. She attended Burdett Business College in Boston and was employed by The Boston Tomato Company as bookkeeper. Her older brother Frankie (Fr. Dominic, OFM) introduced her to his MIT classmate, and they were married in 1951 at St. Francis Parish in Medford. Teresa remained devoted to her Bill and he to her for all of their days. When Teresa was not cooking for her 7 children, she was making room at the table for one of their friends or several of the hundreds of guests she entertained throughout the years. She had the gift of feeding an army at a moment's notice. Teresa was active in the St. Joseph's Mother's Club and The League of Women Voters. She also worked many years at St. Vincent de Paul Society in Cambridge. After Bill's passing, Teresa continued her social activities with painting classes, Bridge and Whist games, and exercise classes at numerous senior centers while lovingly cared for by her son Rob and his wife Judy in Middleton. Her favorite place is Long Beach, Gloucester, where she spent every summer and could be found daily at 4:30 PM, as the center of a circle of beach chairs filled with women, sisters and friends, sharing their wisdom and advice for all to hear.
Teresa loved her siblings and their spouses who passed on to eternal life before her; Salvatore (Duke) and Sarah Silvestro, John and Adeline Silvestro, Anne and Philip Strazzulla, Rose and Joe Sharrino, Joanne and Greg (Marian) Sacca, Vicki and Maurice Zaffiro, and Marie and Joe Cincotta. She is survived by her brother, Fr. Dominic OFM Capuchin, of Italy and her numerous and adored nieces and nephews and their families.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, February 12, 10:00 AM, at Our Lady of Good Voyage, 142 Prospect Street, Gloucester followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Danvers Senior Center, 25 Stone St, Danvers, MA 01923 or The League of Women Voters. Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester.
