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| Although Jo Anne
wasn't a member of U.F.D., she was a very familiar face in the Village
of Unionville. She served as the Clerk - Treasurer for the past 10 Years.
Most everyone in Unionville knew her as a caring, well loved person. Jo
Anne even adopted a stray cat at the Village office and named him Lucky.
Lucky quickly became the Village mascot and he attended all meetings; usually
sitting on Jo Anne's lap.
The past two months have been difficult. Jo Anne's health was a roller - coaster ride. At one point in September the Doctors were even talking about a release from the hospital. But on October 8th, things took a turn for the worse. She was transferred to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY where she stayed in ICU. On November 12th the time had come to say good-bye to that well known and well loved woman. The hardest part about writing this piece is that this well loved woman is the one who I was blessed in calling "Mom". Mom, I love you!! |
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Love, Dad, Shari, & Jason We love you Mimi!
All our love forever,
We love you Aunt JoGee
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I dedicate this Website to Jo Anne Russell;
Thank you,
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| Eulogy for Jo Anne Sutton Russell
By Kay Garrison The daughter of the late John D. and Cornelia
Clark Sutton.
The wife of John E. Russell. The beginning of a union that started on October 23, 1965. The mother of Shari Lynn who shared her birthdate April 3, 1966. The mother of Jason Scott born February 17, 1974. The grandmother (Mimi) to:
John has asked me to speak about Jo Anne, a task impossible to accomplish in a few minutes. Jo Anne Sutton Russell, an intelligent, attractive and interesting woman. She was well dressed and well groomed, never a hair out of place, but what she wore best and what we will remember most were the smiles she wore. The family has assembled a pictorhal of her life and I think it reads like a book displaying the make up and spirit of Jo Anne. It gives us some insight as to why she had love and respect of not just her family, but her neighbors, friends, co-workers, and her community. She was the icon of her family and of the Village of Unionville; which has the flag at half-mast in front of her office where she worked as the Village Clerk and Treasurer for the past 10 years. She loved her job and was good at it. We hope you all get a chance to look at this pictorial; number one, because it gave those who worked on it a chance to learn her priorities in life. Wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. The second reason is because about 10 members of her close family has worked very hard to gather just the right photos. The pictorial will also be on display at the Unionville Firehouse. There will also be a journal. We invite you to write in it your favorite memories of Jo Anne. I think the pictorial reads like a book and reflects the pride and joy her family brought to her; her interests and hobbies. We see the care she took in making each day count. like to read a favorite quote of Jo Anne.
I think Jo Anne did take advantage of each day and each evening. Mornings, however, was not our Jo Anne. On weekends she often just skipped mornings and went directly to lunch, which for her was her coffee and cigarettes. Jo Anne was a collector; correction, Jo Anne
was a collector of collections. To list a few of her passions:
I had the pleasure of going to 3 collectable conventions with her; Secaucus, NJ in 1996, Edison, NJ in 1998, and most recently to Long Beach, CA in April 1999. Jean and I will cherish the two weeks we spent in San Diego as guests of my sister Kathy. We had a grand time and did what we do best; shop, eat, and have fun. Jo's first collection was her Road Runners. In 1989 she purchased her Black Super Sport with T-tops. She loved this car and put many miles on it; shopping! This is when John gave her the handle RoadRunner, and it stuck. Jo had a collection of another love; her Country music. She would attend concerts of her favorites, traveling near and far to enjoy the artist. I had the pleasure of going with her to see Garth Brooks in Albany, NY. Of all her collections, I think the Dept. 56 Village was her favorite. The Village was a chore of meticulous perfection, taking many, many hours to create. Jo Anne's whole house was a Christmas fantasy. Her snowmen and Christmas Cherished Teddies, the Christmas tree with everything on it placed just so. When she even decorated the ceiling fan, J.R. said she just might have gone too far. I don't anyone who loved Christmas as much as Jo. Baking cookies around the clock, not stopping to sleep or rest till the job was done. Shopping for gifts was a real treat with knack of finding just the right present for the loved ones. "Born to shop" and "Shop till you drop" were invisible tattoos on her forehead. I had several experiences with her marathon shopping trips. One favorite was Stormville Flea Market. We would leave about 6 a.m.; yes Jo really got up at 5 a.m. to get ready; and we would not return until 9, 10, or 11 p.m. John would take up a betting pool to see who could come closest to our time of return. Her collections of Teddy Bears are in every
room of her home. Once, and I swear this is true, she got up at 4 a.m.
to go to Warwick, NY to get the two special pieces signed by the artist
Gary Lowenthal. One of which she gave to her mother-in-law, Bertha.
The pictorial includes a picture of Gary signing her bears. We also dedicated a section for travel. Jo and seven friends including myself went to Cancun, Mexico in 1993. We had a grand time. Most recently, Jo, Jean, and I were the guests at my sister Kathy's home in San Diego, CA. Kathy filled out two weeks with all that could be done in that short time. Yet another marathon shopping trip to Tijuana, Mexico, another Seaport Village and another at the Indian Preservations. There is a picture of her and a lion taken at the San Diego Zoo. I think it reflects her zest for life. She had a good time showing it to her grandchildren. Jo was a collector as we well know, but her most treasured collection of all was that of family and friends. She somehow found time to make us all feel we were special. I know you all join me in Prayers of strength for her husband John; for her children Shari and Jason; her grandchildren Erica, Kyle, Jenna, and Ginamarie. For Denise, her sister and her best friend, and for her niece, Stephanie, who she shared a special bond. In the past few months I have witnessed an overwhelming display of love and devotion from both John and Jo Anne's families. Her brother Kevin rarely missed a visit at the hospital. Her sister Bonnie coming from Oregon, her brother Shawn coming from Ohio. Jo's sister-in-laws cooking, cleaning, babysitting, doing whatever they could to help. Cousins coming all the way from Florida and so many friends sending cards and Praying for her. We have gathered together to mourn for our loss and to celebrate her life. We all wanted more time with her; she left too soon. She fought a hard battle but was taken from us on November 12th at the hospital with loved ones at her side. Many of us have tried to make sense of why
such a young, healthy, vibrant woman leaves us so soon. But there are no
answers to our questions. I think Erica's words of "just not fair" reflect how all of us feel today.
Thank you Kay!
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| Wind Beneath My Wings
by Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar from the soundtrack to "Beaches" |
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