Katrine Troyanovich Russo Obituary

Katrine Troyanovich Russo passed peacefully at her home on March 5, 2022, surrounded by her family, after 102 extraordinary years.

Her final months were spent as she always wished — living independently and enjoying frequent visits and talks with loved ones.

Katrine was the last of 12 children born to Slovak immigrants, Andrew and Anna Troyanovich. Her childhood in Peekskill, New York, was filled with love, joy, and hard work. When she was not attending school, where she was an outstanding student who skipped the fourth grade, Katrine worked along with her family in their grocery store on North Division Street. Katrine and her beloved sister Irene often made deliveries around town.

In 1937, Katrine graduated from Peekskill High School. Although she was hesitant to leave the family she loved so much, she followed in her sister Pauline’s footsteps to New Paltz Normal School. The generosity of her sisters Pauline and Mary allowed Katrine to become the second Troyanovich child to attend college and pursue a degree in teaching. At New Paltz, Katrine became the editor of the school paper, where she first crossed paths with Edward Russo — who frequently came barreling in with the sports page moments before deadline.

Katrine’s first teaching jobs brought her to Van Cortlandtville Elementary School in Yorktown Heights, New York, and then to the Horace Greeley School in Chappaqua, New York. She continued her studies, commuting to Manhattan on weekends to complete her bachelor’s degree at New York University. She spent one summer living on campus, just steps from Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.

Throughout the difficult years of the war, Katrine and her sister Irene saved and planned for the day when they could purchase a car and take a trip across the country. In the summer of 1947, they set off — spending more than a month laughing, fending off many eager suitors, and soaking in the sights from New York to California and back.

The men began to return from overseas, including Edward Russo, who served in the Army Air Forces in Europe. As luck would have it, he also landed a teaching position at Chappaqua’s Horace Greeley School. Kit and Ed struck up a friendship, buoyed by weekly drives down to Columbia University Teachers College, where they both pursued their master’s degrees. When they began dating, Ed often left love notes in Kit’s school mailbox or sent his students to deliver them to her classroom. Ed proposed on Christmas of 1950, and they were married March 26, 1951.

Their first daughter, Ann, arrived in April of 1953, followed by Kathy in October of 1954. The Russos settled in to their new home in the peaceful Meadow Park neighborhood of Katonah, New York, and soon made many lifelong friends. After spending several years at home with her girls, Katrine returned to the work she loved. She began teaching kindergarten at Katonah Elementary School and remained there until her retirement in 1977.

Following her cross-country trip, Katrine became an avid traveler. There were many road trips when the girls were young, and five weeks in Europe in the summer of 1969. In their retirement, Kit and Ed explored all over the world — from her parents’ hometown of Lucina, Slovakia, to Egypt, Russia, Thailand, and China.

Katrine’s devotion to family was a driving force throughout her life. She brought her extended family together regularly, hosting picnics twice a year for her siblings and dozens of nieces and nephews. She dedicated herself to her daughters, and her four granddaughters when they arrived beginning in 1982 — showing them all deep, unconditional love. She frequently described family as the most important part of life, and instilled close, loving relationships among the next generations.

A fervent love of learning was also a constant in Katrine’s life. She was an avid reader since childhood, devouring everything from classic novels to newspapers. She closely followed current events and politics and engaged in thoughtful discussions. In her retirement, Katrine enjoyed taking a variety of continuing education classes.

In 1998, Kit and Ed moved to the beautiful Royal Crest Country Club in Walpole, Massachusetts, to be closer to their daughters and granddaughters. Katrine dove into all the activities the community had to offer, taking up golf, joining aerobics classes, playing bridge, and founding a popular book club. She volunteered at Medfield’s Memorial School, where her granddaughters attended, tutoring young readers. She continued many of those activities — and driving her nitzy red car with the spoiler on the back — into her late nineties.

Most importantly, Katrine spent lots and lots of time with her girls. She took her granddaughters to dance and music lessons, attended every school event, and spoiled them with shopping trips. After Ed’s passing in 2002, Katrine joined her girls on many travels, visiting Prague, London, Paris, Montreal, Miami, and New York City. Granddaughters Sarah, Ali, Rachel, and Katrina were frequent visitors at Royal Crest, even after they all grew up and moved away.

Katrine impressed and inspired everyone she met with her radiant positivity. Even a short phone call with her would lift any friend or family member’s spirits. Loved ones were always greeted with joy, a beaming smile, and a twinkle in her eyes. She was generous with her love, wit, and attention, making friends and earning admirers wherever she went.

Katrine will forever be deeply missed by her beloved daughters, Ann Russo and her husband Larry Krasnow of Norfolk, MA and Kathy Russo Simon of Medfield, MA, and granddaughters Sarah Krasnow and her husband James Ilgenfritz of Irvine, CA, Ali Krasnow of Portland, OR, Rachel Simon and her husband Or Skolnik of New York, NY, and Katrina Simon of New York, NY.

A funeral mass will be held at The Church of the Assumption in Peekskill, New York on Tuesday, March 15 at 10AM. Katrine will be buried with the Troyanovich family at Assumption Cemetery. A reception will follow at Bear Mountain Inn, where she spent many happy evenings out.

In lieu of flowers, Katrine requested that donations be made to purchase books for the Children’s Room at the Walpole Public Library. Please make checks out to the Walpole Public Library, noting they are in memory of Katrine Troyanovich Russo, and mail to: Library Director, Walpole Public Library, 143 School Street, Walpole, MA 02081.