Obituary of Clara Susan Minerva Russo
Clara Minerva Osborne was born in Monroe, Michigan on July 17, 1929. She was the daughter of Thomas Osborne and Margaret (Williams) Osborne. At the age of three she moved to Middlesboro, Kentucky where she would live the next five years prior to coming back to Michigan.
Clara was married by the Reverend Burnard Marris to the love of her life Dominic T. Russo on December 28, 1946, at St. Joseph Church. The couple would be blessed with the birth of two children: Tony and Tom. Clara was a wonderful woman, kind and caring. She was a supportive mother to both of her boys and had served as caregiver to Tony throughout his life until his passing, volunteering at the Holiday Camp where he attended many years.
For forty-two years, Clara, worked alongside her son, Thomas in the family business Monroe Excavating. She served in numerous capacities as the Secretary/Treasurer and Bookkeeper. She had previously been employed at Kelsey Hayes.
Clara enjoyed staying active. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and had served as the Past President of the Christian Ladies. She was a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Monroe County Road and Gun Club where she had enjoyed shooting trap. She was a member of the Frenchtown Senior Center and had bowled in numerous Junior Ladies leagues at the Monroe Sports Center.
Clara was very detail oriented. She knew how she wanted things done and how to get them done. She wasn’t afraid of hard work, sharing memories of picking and shucking acres of corn by hand. She was an excellent cook with the philosophy of the more the merrier. Clara prepared many meals for her own family and whoever else pulled up a chair often feeding her husband’s friends and even employees. She enjoyed bird watching and was an avid reader of westerns. Clara loved her grandson and great grandchildren.
Clara Susan Minerva Russo, age 93, of Monroe passed away at 11:59pm on Sunday; August 28, 2022, at Wellspring Lutheran Services. She had been under the care of ProMedica Monroe Hospice. Her passing was preceded by her parents; her husband: Dominic T. Russo; a son: Dominic Anthony "Tony" Russo; two brothers: Thomas Osborne and Robert Osborne; a sister: Betty Jo Welch; and a daughter-in-law: Sharon Russo.
To cherish her memory, she leaves a son: Thomas Russo of Monroe; one grandson: Dominic (Rosalia) Russo of Monroe; and two great grandchildren: Tommaso Russo and Natalia Russo
Friends may gather from 2:00pm until 8:00pm on Wednesday; August 31, 2022, at Merkle Funeral Service, South Monroe; 14567 South Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48161 (734) 241-7070. A Funeral Service Celebrating Her Life will take place at 11:00am on Thursday; September 1, 2022, also at Merkles. Procession will follow to St. Joseph Cemetery for burial.
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