Stella Marie Antoinette LaRussa

Stella Marie Antoinette LaRussa formally of Danbury CT passed away on Sunday May 3, 2020 at the age of 94.  Stella was born in the feudal town of Laon, France on December 24, 1925.  In that town she would later survive the Nazi occupation of France during WWII. As a Red Cross volunteer, she ministered to and comforted wounded soldiers. She met her future husband Joseph A LaRussa (an American GI) who was stationed in France at the time.  When the War ended she was married in Laon and returned with Joseph to live in the Bronx, NY.  Stella worked as a dental assistant in Valhalla, NY and later in Yorktown Heights, NY where she retired.  Much appreciated by all for her loving and charitable ways, she is well characterized in the following letter of sympathy written by one of her husband’s business associates and close friends:

“ Thank you for letting me know the bad news about Stella.　I found your mail when I happened to check the e-mails before going to bed last night. I got a shock, also my sadness made me hardly sleep last night. As considering her age, we may have to give up, still, I am so sad to recall her endless kindness and special elegance.However, we can also think that Stella was released from her terrible pain, and escaped from the world of today, where restless and inconvenience are caused by the Corona-Wills disaster.So, Stella has gone to heaven where her beloved Debbie and Joe are waiting.

The thought of it may give us a little comforting.I also, lost my parents long ago, and several years ago my only brother too, so in these days, I sometimes feel lonely as those people who were close to me, passed away one by one. But Steve, we can not stop the people who pass away.So, we, as the remaining people, let us get along with each other, and enjoy our life.I believe Stella, Debbie, and Joe certainly wish so.

Kindest regards.

Shimazu ”

She is pre-deceased by her husband Joseph (June 4, 2007) and her daughter Debra Marie (August 28, 2018).  She is survived by her sons Joseph Jr and Raymond, son-in-law Stephen, her Granddaughters Amanda (and her husband John), Taylor (and her fiancé Peter), her Grandson Daniel (and his wife Andrea), as well as her great grandchildren, Zoey aka “Z”, Gianna, Bennet, Lucia, Camila, a multitude of nieces and nephews, and her best friend Maria.

Due to the current restrictions, a small service will be held on Tuesday morning, May 12 for immediate family only, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Joseph at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y.

HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME

21 West Stevens Ave.

Hawthorne, New York 10532

914-769-4404