Elisa Russano, age 84 years, of Kingwood Township, NJ, died peacefully surrounded by her devoted family on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ.
Born on February 28, 1940, in Avella, Provincial Di Avellino, which is a small village just south west of Naples, Italy. Elisa was the 14th of 14 Children (3 passed away at birth and she had 7 sisters and 3 brothers) of Maria Davanzo-Pedalino and Giacquino Pedalino.
Elisa grew up in poverty and helped on the family farm, which was filled with olive trees, cherry trees, grapes vines, beans, walnut & hazelnut trees. As young as three years old, she would help the family work the fields, pick the harvest to help her parents feed the family. During her adolescent years, she, and her family experienced additional hardships of War World II. Throughout this time, they endured bombs which had fallen and exploded daily in the town. German soldiers would pillage their town and kill livestock which continued to limit the source of food. She experienced first-hand the respect and love for freedom from the Allied soldiers going through their streets as they went house to house protecting the citizens looking for German soldiers. She remembers the acts of kindness of the American soldiers while they provided chocolate to her and helped the families! They had very little food and she would climb cherry trees against her father’s wishes to help harvest food and then she would call her brothers and her father to help her because she was stuck at the top of the tree. The family farm helped her family as well as others in the village. Elisa attended school up to the eighth grade, she helped the family on the “Land,” all while learning a trade as a seamstress. It was not until Elisa was 17, that she was introduced to her now husband, Andy, by her older sister, Anna. Both Anna and Andy lived in America.
In 1957, this introduction was via letter, to Andy Russano, in which her sister, Anna Guerriero, kept a close watch over the courtship! Over the next few years, they would send photographs of each other and correspond via letters all the while falling in love. Elisa was courted by Andy and after pinching the families’ pennies, she embarked on a journey to America on June 20, 1959. On July 4, she along with many who were immigrating, entered the New York City harbor where the ship was held due to quarantine. That evening, while making her way from the lowest area of the ship to the upper deck, Elisa experienced the Statue of Liberty on her left, and the fireworks display indicating Freedom was over the Harbor! The next day, July 5, 1959, she arrived at Ellis Island where she eventually met up with her sister, Anna, and was formerly introduced to Andy. They continued their courtship and were married on November 20, 1960, in St. Lucy’s Church, Newark, NJ. Eventually she settled in Newark, NJ, where Elisa and Andy worked in an ice cream parlor which was owned by Carmine and her sister, Anna.
Elisa and Andy were blessed with three children, two daughters and a son. The family lived in Newark and was part of the community and St. Lucy’s Church until 1969, when civil unrest made it unsafe for them to continue to raise their family in that locale. At this time, they relocated to Belleville, NJ, attended St. Peters Church until it was destroyed by fire in the late 1970’s, and then they attended St. Mary’s Church in Nutley.
Around this time, Elisa and Andy opened a candy store, and Elisa then began employment at Liberty Optical where she worked for 31 years as she made her way up the corporate ladder to floor supervisor.
Elisa bought vacant land to farm in Kingwood Township in 1980. The couple slowly began farming activities, such as growing vegetables and traveling back and forth from Belleville over the next ten years. In 1990, they built their home and relocated to the countryside permanently. They developed the land, raised livestock, including sheep, chickens, ducks, emus, cows, yaks and, of course, donkeys.
While living in Kingwood, Elisa attended St. John the Evangelist Church in Lambertville, NJ. Annually, Elisa and Andy hosted fundraising events at the park whereby hundreds of attendees and their family’s enjoyed friendship, food, and the love of Bocce. These events raise funds for the park to assist the members of the community in sports activities and learning sessions.
Elisa enjoyed her life with husband, Andy, children, grandchildren, and his surviving sister. Her passion never wavered from the early days as a child when she farmed to survive. She continued to recognize the importance of friendship, helping others, breaking bread, having gravy on Sunday, and sharing her successes with everyone who embraces their culture. The lessons of the American and Allied soldiers who helped families in need when Elisa was a child has never been forgotten. Elisa truly believed that giving back to the community and those within it, no matter who they are, is truly the meaning of life and success!
“La nonna” who Elisa was known as, is defined as authentic, trustworthy and one who gives endless love. Nonna instilled the importance of love to all members of the family from a young age! While gathering around kitchen and preparing Sunday Dinner, Nonna shared these life lessons whenever she could have a chance. Lessons on living a happy life, our relationships, financial awareness the correct way of assembling lasagna, how to make a perfect meatball, why the garlic and onions fight in the gravy, how to mix the ricotta for the cheese cake, all the while teaching everyone the importance of laughter, forgiveness and how important family is to us all!
Elisa, aka nonna, aka mom, is survived by her husband, Antimo (Andy) Russano of 63 1/2 years; three children, Hilda and her husband, Anthony, of Omaha Nebraska, Jackie of Lebanon, NJ, and Andy and his wife, Rose, of Kingwood Township, NJ; her 7 grandchildren, Melissa, Gabriella, Anthony, Andrew, Joseph, Lisamarie, and Jacalyn; 3 great- grandchildren, Audrina, Jaylen, and Gianna; a host of additional family around the world; and many dear friends who were proud to call Elisa not a friend, but rather family…
Elisa will lie in repose on Monday, July 22, 2024, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.
A Catholic Vigil service, followed by reflections from family and friends, will follow the gathering beginning at 7:30 p.m. and to which all are welcome.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Jose Lim will take place on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 44 Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ under the care and direction of Wright & Ford. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at church on Tuesday morning beginning at 10:45 a.m. and to follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.
Burial in the family plot will take place immediately following mass at St. Magdalen Cemetery, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ, and again, all are welcome.
You are encouraged to visit Elisa’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.
In lieu of flowers, the Russano family kindly asks that those who wish to make a contribution in honor of Elisa’s life do so to the Morristown Gagnon Cardiovascular Center in appreciation for their life saving efforts that allowed this world to benefit from 7 more years of blessings from Elisa after her heart surgery in 2017. Contributions may be mailed to the “Foundation for Morristown Medical Center”, 310 South Street, 4th Floor, Morristown, NJ 07960, or may be made online by clicking HERE.
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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”
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