Anastasia C. Russell's Obituary
Russell, Anastasia (Babe) , 89, beloved wife of the late Joseph Russell, died at her home in St. Petersburg, FL on July 25, 2009 surrounded by her family. Daughter of the late Margaret (Horan) and Frederick Ducker, she was born in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to moving to St. Petersburg in 1971, she lived in Rosedale, NY and Bennington, VT. Babe was an innkeeper and baker who retired from the Pinellas County School System in 2001. She enjoyed traveling, ballroom dancing, and was an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Bucs. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace for 38 years.
She is survived by a sister, Mary "Mae" Ducker, of St. Petersburg, FL; eight children, Loretta Catozzi and husband Jim of Newtown, PA, Joseph Russell and wife Yumiko of North Bennington, VT, Eileen Russell of Milford, CT, Michael Russell and wife Christy of Thornton, TX, Gregory Russell and wife Karen Otto of Middleton, MA, Mary Drzyzga and husband Greg of Amissville, VA, Thomas Russell and wife Penny of Tarpon Springs, FL, and Jane Smith and husband Stuart of Houston, TX; 13 grandchildren, Anne, Robert, Elizabeth, Kristopher, Mark, Justin, Andrew, Lindsey, Emily, Jennifer, Jay, Evan, and Nolan; 8 great-grandchildren, Alex, Matthew, Emily, Isabel, Benjamin, Ryan, Jack, and Shelby; and her grandpets, Elmo, Star, Harley, Molly, Cowgirl, Avery, Rascal, Opie, and Noel, numerous nieces and nephews, most notably Roberta; her Hospice caregiver, Nikisha Williams. She was predeceased by two sisters, Julia Ryan and Margaret Mitchell. Visiting hours are from 6:00-8:00pm on July 27th at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A mass of Christian burial will be said at St. Mary Our Lady of Grace on July 28th at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast (www.thehospice.org), the Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (www.pancan.org), or the charity of one's choice.
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