ST. MARY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: RUSSO, SAMUEL JOSEPH Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: Franklin Banner-Tribune, Morgan City Daily Review; St. Mary Parish, La. Published: 4 April, 2013 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= RUSSO, SAMUEL JOSEPH ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/stmary/obits/dateobits/2013/sm1304.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 5, 2013, at a 2 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Broussard for Samuel Joseph Russo, 71, who died on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at his residence in Lafayette, surrounded by his family. The family requests that visitation be observed at Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Broussard on Friday, April 5, 2013, from noon until time of services. Entombment will be in Sacred Heart of Jesus Mausoleum in Broussard. The Rev. Steve LeBlanc, pastor of St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church, will be the celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. The Rev. William Ruskoski, associate pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, will concelebrate. Lectors will be Gary Russo and Jennifer Russo. Giftbearers will be his grandchildren. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 48 years, Rosary Vinci Russo; three children, Connie Russo Hart and her husband, Christopher, Christopher Joseph Russo and his wife, Mamie, and Samuel Joseph Russo Jr. and his wife, Jennifer; and five grandchildren, Julia Marie Hart, Clara Christine Hart, Isabella Alicia Russo, Anthony Joseph Russo and Cole Joseph Russo. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Ruth Talbot; his brothers, Roder James Russo and his wife, Debbie, Ronald Michael Russo and his wife, Martha, and Gary Jude Russo and his wife, Kim; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ned Charles and Catherine Lemke Russo; and a brother-in-law, Dale Joseph Talbot. Samuel Joseph Russo, affectionately known as Sammy Joe, was born on Sept. 17, 1941, in Franklin. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (University of Louisiana - Lafayette). He married Rosary Vinci in 1964. Blessed with an entrepreneurial spirit, Sammy Joe ran numerous companies and found great success in the oil and gas industry. He was the founder and president of Stabil Drill until his recent retirement. He was an active parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Broussard and was involved in many community organizations. He will be remembered as a kind and generous man, who loved his life, faith and family. Pallbearers will be Pete Russo, Charlie Goodson, Kevin Parks, Joe Romar, Roosevelt Dunn, Ken Blanchard, Pat Williamson and Frank Domino Jr. The family wishes to thank Earline and Roosevelt Dunn for their love and support. The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Samuel Joseph Russo to Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box 737, Broussard, LA 70518 or to Saint Pius X Elementary School, P.O. Box 80489, Lafayette, LA 70598-0489. Arrangements were handled by Martin & Castille – Downtown, 330 St. Landry Street, Lafayette, La., 337-234-2311 ===================