Rosalie A. Russello

Rosalie “Rose” Russello passed away peacefully at home in Newbury, Massachusetts, at 88 years of age. A New Yorker for many years, Rose carried a no-nonsense sensibility throughout her life, which served her well.
Born in New York in 1938 as one of three children to Frank and Angie Longo, she quickly learned to navigate what was largely a man’s world. Educational opportunities were scarce for women, but she advanced in life despite the challenges—with an unwavering devotion to uplifting those less fortunate, from spearheading fundraising initiatives for the homeless to organizing charity drives to support single women entering the workforce.
Though she never had the opportunity to attend college (or law school, as she wanted), education was front-and-center in her life—something her three children, Frank, Sal, and Joe, appreciated. Rose was proud of her work in the law department of the Town of Brookhaven, New York, and her work supporting busy lawyers. An avid reader, a stack of books was always nearby. And read books fervently, she did; if you lent one to her, you were sure to receive it back within the week with a full review (“hated it” or “it was ok”), dogeared but clearly enjoyed cover-to-cover.
A fan of murder mysteries, Rose could often be found watching the Ovation station—a subscription-based television channel dedicated to U.K. entertainment, as odd as that might sound. Until the very end, she enjoyed Murdoch Mysteries and Midsomer Murders, navigating accents that were very much unlike her own (a charming trait she retained as she moved from New York to Florida and then Massachusetts).
Despite this seemingly lighthearted interest, Rose didn’t suffer fools lightly. Headstrong and determined, she demanded excellence and frequently achieved it. She was known for delivering candid and straightforward advice—because what was important to her wasn’t what someone wanted to hear, but what they needed to. This was her north star, and it served her—and those who confided in her—well. Indeed, local politics featured prominently for a large part of Rose’s life. Town officials and state senators often sought her counsel, and she worked tirelessly to ensure candidates she believed in had an opportunity to serve their communities.
Rose had a knack for crocheting, knitting, and embroidery—lifelong hobbies that produced elaborate garments and treasured furnishings for friends and family. Newborns could expect full-fledged outfits within days. She wielded a needle well into her hinter years, often with an unfiltered Lucky Strike and a cloud of cigarette smoke above her.
Rose was married to Salvatore, her loving husband, for over 50 years. They were inseparable until the very end, with his passing occurring—also at home—only two months before hers. The loss devastated her (as it did us); her loss now devastates us all. But we are extremely lucky to have been in their orbit for so long. If our father was the ocean upon which our family sailed, she was the wind that pushed us all forward. They will be forever missed.
Predeceased by her parents and brother, Joseph Longo, Rose is survived by sister JoAnn DaSilva and three sons: Frank (Donna), of Mastic, New York; Salvatore (Andrea), of Newbury, Massachusetts; and Joseph (Tara) of Commack, New York. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren—Salvatore and Lucca Russello (of Massachusetts) and Brooke and Ryan Russello (of New York)—who will miss her dearly. As will the family dog, Ty, who sat at her bedside until the end.