Tina Russo

Tina was born June 11, 1934, in Port Chester, New York, the first of three generations to be delivered at the same hospital. She was the youngest of three daughters born to Dominick and Rosa Capaldi.

Growing up in Port Chester, Tina looked up to her father as a source of kindness and love. Tina loved to dance with her father, often at parties that would last for days. She was enamored by his handiwork skills, and enjoyed watching him build anything requested. She also adored her oldest sister, Marie. Tina often spoke of Marie’s beautiful operatic voice, and her perfect delivery of the Ave Maria. Her devotion to Marie continued long after Marie’s early passing, looking after, and ultimately caring for, Marie’s husband Fred until his death decades later.

A single parent from the birth of her only child, Bonnie, Tina developed a strong work ethic to support her family (a virtue she learned from both of her parents). Working from the age of 14, her employment ranged from decades at Allstate Insurance, owning her own domestic services business, and opening and operating Russo’s Italian American Deli in Miami.

None of these jobs could hold a candle to the role she played for more than 25 years as “Mama Tina” of Costco. Tina started as a food demonstrator in the early 90s and jumped at the chance to be part of the Food Court, where she worked her way up to Manager. When she stepped down from her management position in her late 70s to enjoy more time with her family, she remained with Costco as a door greeter and comp shopper, relishing the relationships she made with her co-workers and especially with the Members. For 25 years, Tina would talk about Costco to whoever would listen, and treated all of her fellow employees like family from the newest hire to the CEO. When she finally retired at the age of 85, she held the title of oldest Costco employee.

Even with such a strong dedication to her work, Tina made sure to love life. She loved her daughter greatly and shared many experiences with her, mostly on cruises and at casinos. In fact, her 87th birthday was celebrated at the Hard Rock Casino. For over a decade, and until recently, she and her sister Josephine owned lived right next door to one another. Tina spent almost every day with Jo, whether it was at one another’s homes, or driving around Orlando shopping and going to appointments. Tina loved her grandchildren Kellie, Ryan, and Katie with what seemed like the greatest love possible…until the births of her great granddaughters Charlotte and Juliana, around whom her world revolved for the last six years.

In addition to her parents, Tina is preceded in the journey to Heaven by her sister Marie, nephew Gary, and grandson Ryan.

Tina is survived by her sister Josephine, daughter Bonnie, granddaughters Kellie and Katie, great granddaughters Charlotte and Juliana, nephew Kenneth, and great nephews Joseph and Nicholas.

A funeral Mass for Tina will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 6200 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32809. Following the funeral Mass will be a committal service from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL 34734. We respectfully request that masks be worn for the Mass service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tina’s name. God Bless.