Last Friday, September 13th, my Grandpa Russell passed away...he was 95. I think most people think of 95 as a scary age to live to, but this man was of sound mind & body up until the very end. He knew me by name and asked about Jase the last time I saw him and I am so beyond grateful for that.
My Uncle Bob said it best at the wake when he said, "I knew he couldn't live forever, but I think we were all beginning to think he was going to."
At the age of 92, he decided to move to an assisted living facility because he was tired of mowing the lawn in the summer and dealing with winter weather. Not long before he moved, one of my cousins received a call from one of my grandpa's neighbors informing him, "Ernie is on the 2nd story of the house fixing a window." (maybe cleaning gutters I don't remember) By the time someone got there to help him, he had already cleaned up and was putting the ladder away :)
Obituary
My Grandma Russell passed away just days after I turned 5 so I don't
have much more than faint memories of her. The most vivid one being the
day I asked her, standing in her bathroom, why she was so yellow (she died of cancer and her liver
was failing). I remember my dad was less than impressed by my
observation.
She made the best
toast...butter and strawberry jelly, topped with cinnamon & sugar (I
still do this). Their utensils had white handles and their juice
glasses were a green textured glass. She was always saying "give me
your sugar" while trying to kiss you and I've seen pictures that make me think I was not amused
by this lol She was tall with dark hair and wore dark rimmed glasses.
She had powder in one of those large round containers with the big make-up puff and to this day I can still remember how it smelled. It's amazing to me how much some of my aunts (and Uncle Bob) look like her.
Grandpa passed on some features of his own including the large "Russell head" (I can say that because I inherited it) and his hands. These big hard working mitts that could be identified from across a room. The right one always stretched out for a handshake. Listening to stories over the last few weeks have made me realize just how much my dad is like him...all the way down to those hands. And big head :)
I'm taking a stab at the year, but I'm pretty sure my grandparents married around 1943. Grandpa had 2 daughters with his first wife and they proceeded to have 9 more...5 girls & 4 boys. 11 total: Rusty (Mary Agnes), Ernestine, Anna, Rita, Bob, Joni, Debbie, Pat, Robyn, Gregg (my dad), and Jeff.
There's this really great black & white picture of all of them just before my Uncle Jeff was born, but I can't find it so these will have to do.
Joni, Bob, Debbie, Dad, Jeff, Robyn, Pat, Anna
Rusty, Grandpa, Ernestine, Rita
Christmas 2012
This past May, at his 95th birthday celebration, he told me how they ended up with so many kids.
"You see we used to live next to the train tracks. A train would go by at 5 every morning so we'd be awake, but it wasn't time to get up so....."
My Aunt Rusty informed me that because he told me that story, I'm officially an adult.
Anyone who knows my dad, knows how much he loves to tell a story or a joke...he got that from my Grandpa. When I was little, I remember Grandpa always telling these with a HUGE smile on his face...
Want to hear a dirty joke? Little boy fell in a mud puddle (slaps knee)
Want to hear a clean joke? Little boy took a bath (slaps knee)
I once asked him how many weddings he'd been to and he
answered very matter of fact, "Well, I've been to 3 of my own so I can't
imagine how many others."
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| 40th Wedding Anniversary 1983ish |
I have this memory of staying at his house when I was little; and just before we went to bed, there was some show on tv about a murder. Not surprisingly, it scared the crap out of me and I cried for my mom. He told me to lay with my back against his and I wouldn't need to be scared. Honest to God, I think about that every time I watch a scary movie.
"He was a great man - He was so proud of his family."
I've heard that so
many times in the last few days. He outlived 3 wives and raised 11 children and never questioned his faith. While I'm sure my dad and Uncle Don will argue he had his favorites, he loved each and every one of us. He accepted all of our short comings and remembered all of our achievements.
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| Some of the Grandchildren |
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| Some of the Great-Grandchildren + 1 Great Great Grandchild |
He never met a stranger, even
leaving a rather large impact on the employees at Stonecroft where he lived his
final years. I
think anyone who ever met him would agree the song he chose to be sung at the cemetery was perfect.
Unforgettable
Nat King Cole
Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more
Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too
The very last thing he said to me was not a story or a joke, but rather...
"Thank God for everything you have everyday."
I think we will all be thanking God for the time we had with you for a very long time.
Rest in peace Grandpa
Ernest Russell
1918-2013
EARLVILLE — Ernie Russell, 95, of Earlville, passed away Friday, Sept.
13, at Stonecroft Village Retirement Community in Mendota.
He was
born May 6, 1918, in Lebanon, Ky., the son of David and Blanche
(Hughes) Russell. He was married to his three wives, Matilda Mills, Dora
Whitlock and Genrose Bailey.
He was a member of St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Earlville.
Ernie
worked at Wurlitzer Piano Factory for 35 years until it closed. Ernie
and Dora owned and operated Russell's A & W Root Beer Drive-In in
Earlville. He helped Don Hanley at Hanley Funeral Home for several
years.
Ernie enjoyed refinishing furniture, working for local
farmers and raising his large family and spending time with his grand-,
great- and great-great-grandchildren.
He is survived by four
sons, Robert (Susan) Russell, of Pontiac, Pat (Jane) Russell, of
Earlville, Gregg (Cindy) Russell, of Pontiac, and Jeff (Darcy) Russell,
of Palos Hills; seven daughters, Mary Agnes "Rusty" Russell, of Chicago,
Ernestine (Gerry) Tuftie, of Flanagan, Anna (Charlie) Svendsen, of
Earlville, Rita (the late Ron) Fox, of Chicago, Joan (Perk) Perkins, of
Earlville, Debbie (John) Spears, of Tucson, Ariz., and Robyn (Don)
Bomstad, of Earlville; 24 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; two
great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Virginia Heustis, Margaret Ann
(Shorty) Wheeler, both of Kentucky, and Anna Catherine "Toots" Badgett,
of Ohio; and numerous nieces, nephews and even some cousins.
He
was preceded in death by his parents; his three wives; three brothers,
Melvin, Joe and James "Buddy;" one sister, Mary Ola "Sis" Vessells; one
grandson, Jeffrey Scott Russell Jr.; and two great-grandchildren, Hadley
Jo Bomstad and Maci Jo Russell.
A funeral Mass will be at 11
a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church, 221
Union St., Earlville, with the Rev. Thomas Otto officiating. Burial will
follow at St. Theresa Catholic Cemetery in Earlville. Visitation will
be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the church in Earlville, with a
prayer service at 7:45 p.m. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Tim Tuftie,
Brian Fox, Tom Spears, Doug Russell, Barry Russell, Kevin Bomstad, Ryan
Bomstad, Adam Bomstad and T.J. Russell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the donor's choice.
