Obituary: Dorothy (Willard) Russo, 90, of Branford

Information via Guilford Funeral Home

Sunday, September 25, 2016, Dorothy (Willard) Russo of Branford, formerly longtime resident of Guilford passed away peacefully surrounded by all six of her children and family.

Dorothy was born in Westbrook on April 11, 1926, daughter of the late Vernon and Eleanor Crampton WillardMother of Linda Zink of Rio Rancho, NM, Pasquale James (Rose) Russo of Martinez, GA, Donna R. (David) Fenn of Branford, Mark A. Russo of Guilford, Michael Russo of Guilford and Martha Russo of Guilford. Sister of Richard Willard of Schroon Lake, NY, Elizabeth Cote of Clinton, Verna Perry of Tunbridge, VT, and Katharine Pratt of Glastonbury.

Also survived by twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. Predeceased by three sisters, Marion Benyon, Evelynne Tichy and Helen Knudsen. Just before the end of World War II, Dorothy attended the Cadet Nursing Corps training at Hartford Hospital.

She worked as a Registered Nurse for Grace New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of St. Raphael. During her long career, she had become the first Certified GI Nurse in Connecticut.

Friends are invited to the burial in West Cemetery, Route 1, Madison on Sat. Oct. 1 at 12:30pm. Memorial services will follow at 2 pm on Saturday at the First Congregational Church, 122 Broad St, Guilford. Memorial Contributions may be made to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd, Branford, CT 06405.