Sophie Saragusa Russo

Sophie Saragusa Russo, born February 25, 1941 passed away peacefully Sunday, December 31, 2023 at home with her devoted husband, Charles, by her side. She is preceded in death by her parents, Sam J. Saragusa and Mary Maida Saragusa. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Dr. Charles Eugene Russo, her children, Charles Russo, Jr. (Susie), Steven Russo (Dede) and Michelle Russo Bennett (Dow) and grandchildren, Melissa Russo Wallace (John), Will Russo, Chase Russo, Allie Russo Walls (Robby), Lizzie Russo Davis (Jack), Lanie Russo Holdsworth (Thomas), Elle Bennett, Abbe Bennett and great grandchildren, Sophie Wallace, Emerson Wallace, Robby Walls IV and Steven Walls, and her sisters, Mary Ann Guarino and Sammie Kirkpatrick, along with many nieces and nephews.

Sophie was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She attended elementary school at St. Mary’s, high school at St. Agnes Academy and college at the University of Houston. She and Charles were married at Annunciation Catholic Church on June 25, 1961. She was a long-time parishioner of St. Michael Catholic Church and supported the elementary school (St. Michael) and high schools (St. Thomas and St. Agnes) where her children and grandchildren attended.

Sophie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. She adored her family and enjoyed doing anything that involved them. She loved watching their sporting events, attending their activities, and playing games. Birthdays and holidays were extra special with Mimi and her shopping adventures with each grandchild will never be forgotten. She loved to cook and host her family for Sunday pasta and meatballs and plenty of desserts like her favorites- chocolate yum-yum, coconut cream pie, home-made ice cream and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. She also enjoyed traveling and dining with her husband, Charles, and with their family and long-time friends. She especially loved their trips to Europe, Connecticut, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Bolivar. She was a generous and incredibly sweet person with a loving heart complimented by her fantastic sense of humor and a fun, competitive spirit that made her beloved to all who knew her.

The family would like to send a heartfelt thanks to her doctors- Dr. Oscar Rosales and Dr. George Zenner III, caregivers- Lucy, Karen, Lillie, Dora, LaTosha, Mary, Camil and Carolyn and therapists- John, Jerry and Norina, who provided exceptional care for her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10am on Friday, the 5th of January at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Rd, Houston Texas 77056. The family will receive friends starting at 9am in the Narthex at St. Michael prior to the Mass. A private burial for the family will be conducted after the Mass.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to the Magnificat Houses, P.O Box 8486, Houston Texas 77288 and St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Rd, Houston Texas 77056.