Edith Russell

Edith Mary Russell was born in Norwich, Connecticut on March 18, 1917, to Violet Briscoe and Manuel Gonsalves. She died peacefully on January 20, 2019, at the Parkway Pavillon Convalescent Home in Enfield, Connecticut. She was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Wilbur Bryant Russell, of Culbert, Georgia and her daughter, Dr. Edith Budik, and son, Anthony Russell. She is survived by 8 of her children: daughter Dorothy and her husband Robert Willis of Fredricksburg, Virginia, daughter Ella and her husband Mustapha Baccouche of Tunis, Tunisia, son Wilbur Russell of East Hartford, CT, son Harold and his wife Rosalie Russell of Carrollton, Georgia, daughter Flora and her husband JC Mcmeans of Ellington, CT, son Manuel Russell and his wife Gerti Laesser of Enfield, CT, son John Russell of Bloomfield, CT and son Kenneth Russell of Vernon, CT.

Edith was an only child, since her mother died during childbirth. However, she had 12 pregnancies and 10 live births. Edith and Wilbur raised a radiologist who was a Colonel in the US Army, a civil engineer, a certified public accountant, an educator, a systems developer who worked for the State of Connecticut, a professional welder by trade who worked on submarines for General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) for several years in Groton, Connecticut, a veteran of the United States Air Force, a factory worker at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, a maintenance supervisor at Manchester Community College, and an award-winning international hair designer. She was a grandmother to 30 with 60 great and 15 and still counting great-great-grandchildren. She had also become a respected matriarch to those still holding on to precious childhood memories and narratives of growing up in the village called Norman Holmes.

Edith had a strong Catholic faith resulting in an affectionate, amiable, courageous, empathetic, exuberant, generous, reliable, sincere, sympathetic, and compassionate character. She was no stranger to difficult and hard labor. She worked the 3rd shift, that is, from 11:00pm to 7:00am at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut checking their engines for flaws for several years trying to help her husband feed, clothe, and provide shelter for their 10 children. There was never any maternity leave for her. Always back on the job. After her retirement she worked at Travelers till the age of 75.

Starting in her 60’s, she was able to pursue her dreams to travel the world. She visited Tunisia in North Africa about 7 times, where she attended the marriage of three of her grandchildren. She grew to love her extended Tunisian family and the Tunisian people, in general, who were always kind to her and treated her like one of their own. She is known as “grandma” to them. She loved Hawaii and has also visited other foreign countries like Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal.

There was always one thing on her bucket list that she wanted to acquire. She wanted to earn a high school diploma which she accomplished at the age of 92, being a major source of inspiration to others. May you rest in peace, mama! No one will forget your kindness, generosity, and love for all mankind.

Many thanks to the staff and nurses at Parkway Pavilion and the Masonicare Home & Hospice for their compassionate care given to Edith during her stay.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated for Edith Russell on Monday, January 28th, 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, 370 May Rd, East Hartford, CT, with burial following immediately afterwards at Hillside Cemetery, East Hartford, CT. Calling hours will be Sunday, January 27th from 2 to 6 PM at Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford, CT. The repast will be held following the funeral at the Nutmeg Restaurant and Banquet at 297 South Main St, East Windsor, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Edith to Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 104 South Turnpike Rd, Wallingford, CT or a charity of your choice.