Theresa Marie Russo peacefully passed away at the age of 84 years old on December 22, 2021, in Haddon Township, NJ, in the home she shared with her adoring husband and granddaughter’s family.

Born on November 18, 1937, in Philadelphia to loving parents Salvatore and Ann Pisasale, Theresa brightened every home she made including those in Belmawr and Brigantine, NJ, and Zephryhills and Dade City, Florida, before settling in Haddon Township with family just two weeks shy of the pandemic.

Theresa battled the physical and mental anguish of Parkinson’s disease for many of her senior years but calmly transitioned full of love and peace while in the company of her husband and daughter, with other family very close by.

Kind, generous, gentle, and caring – the illustrative words of a life well-lived and much-loved. Theresa woke up each morning and went to bed each night thinking of how she could help those around her. She was a maker whether cooking up a feast to keep bellies full or crocheting to keep hearts warm. And when anyone asked how they could possibly help her, even to the very end, she shrugged it off and responded very simply… “how about a pound of twenties?”

Born and raised in Philly, Theresa valued community and understood the power of shared love between family and neighbors. She treasured the spirit of South Philly where she met the love of her life, Sal, at the Saint Aloysius School Dance on 26th & Morris, married him in 1956, and then spent the next 65 years dancing through life together. City girl aside, many of Theresa’s fondest memories and joyful stories came from spending time with loved ones while visiting the farm that her family (Rambone) owned in Newfield, NJ.

Theresa’s career was filled with variety be it secretarial duties or retail experience, but what she enjoyed most was her 18 years of sharing smiles at the Brigantine Wawa where they asked her to be a manager many times, but she politely declined in favor of simply serving her local friends and then going home to her cherished family. Because, for Theresa, being a mother, grandmother, and caregiver to all was her true life’s work.

Theresa will be deeply missed by her spouse, Salvatore Russo. Sal was her partner in marriage and mischief for nearly 68 years. They shared adventures and routines, joy and hardship, faith and friendship in health and in sickness. In Theresa’s final years, Sal made many sacrifices and decisions with great love, showing a devotion anyone would be blessed to experience in a lifetime.

She will also live on through her cherished and chosen children, Michele Russo (Brian Potter) and Salvatore Russo, Jr., who were her light and love. She worked (and worried) tirelessly to care for them through life into adulthood. Theresa is preceded in death by her infant son Salvatore Russo, and many unborn loves that her heart made space for while she struggled with infertility.

She leaves in love her namesake, favorite, and only granddaughter, Theresa Zonia, as well as Stefan Zonia who became not only a beloved Grandson, but also devoted caregiver to Theresa in the last few years of her life. And of course, her beloved great grandson, Finn Zonia, that gave endless life to her last year on earth.

Theresa is also survived by her spunky and loyal sister Carmella “Dolly” Cella whom she loved and called a best friend as well as Dolly’s treasured family that Theresa nurtured like her very own. She will be deeply missed by many adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends too.

Theresa’s family looks forward to the day they can safely gather to celebrate her love-filled life. A mass will be shared on February 26 at 11am at Saint Vincent Pallotti Church in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you consider a tribute donation in honor of Theresa Russo to Resolve, the National Infertility Association, supporting mothers and families struggling with infertility and infant loss. Donation link: https://resolve.org/ways-to-g…

For any questions, please reach out to the family at theresazonia@gmail.com.