Ethel H. Russo 1917-2008

LARKIN, HARRIS, RUSSO, JOHNSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 4/29/2008 at 17:08:09

Ethel H. Russo

Ethel H. Russo, 90, of Iowa City, formerly of Dubuque, died Tuesday, March 4, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, following a long illness.

Memorial services will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Lansing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City. Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

She was born April 18, 1917, in Dubuque, daughter of Dr.Ray Harris and Ethel Larkin Harris.

After graduating from the University of Dubuque in 1939, she attended nursing school at Columbia University in New York City, graduating in 1942. She went on to teach psychiatric nursing at New York State Psychiatric Institute.

In 1942, Ethel married Romolo N. Russo, of Scranton, Pa. After World War II, they settled in Dubuque where she taught psychiatric nursing until 1965, at St. Joseph's Sanitarium and at nursing schools statewide. From 1965 to 1975, she served as dean of women at Dubuque Senior High.

In 1977, Ethel moved to Iowa City, where she volunteered at the Women's Center, the Senior Center and the VA hospital.

She loved English literature, her travels in Greece and Spain, gardening, and feeding the birds. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Surviving are her five children, Dr. Harris Russo, and his wife Janice, of Kalamazoo, Mich., daughter Antonia Russo, of Solon, Iowa, Mark A. Russo, and his wife, Diana, of Iowa City, J. Nicholas Russo, also of Iowa City, and daughter Barbara Johnson, and her husband Britt, of Swisher, Iowa; and eight grandchildren.

Her family extends its gratitude to her care providers, and especially to Dr. Champion for the care given Ethel in her last days.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Thursday, March 6, 2008