Obituary of Rosilde Russo

Rosilde Russo Obituary

ROSILDE MARCHETTI RUSSO Rosilde Marchetti Russo was born in the small hillside town of Maenza, Italy, just south of Rome, on May 28, 1943. She was the fifth and youngest daughter of Alfredo Marchetti and Loreda Nardacci.

Their family shared a modest apartment in the historic center of the medieval town, with her parents in a small downstairs bedroom and all five girls sharing the loft above.

At the age of 23, Rosilde followed her sister, Luisa, to San Francisco. She worked at American Poultry and found a new home with the local Italian community.

A favorite nightclub for Italian immigrants was Fugazi Hall in North Beach, where Rosilde met Alfred Russo. They fell in love, married in Monterey, and started a family in the Diamond Heights neighborhood near Golden Gate Park. Over the years, the family moved south down the Bay Area peninsula to San Bruno and later settled in San Mateo. Weekends were filled with trips to Half Moon Bay, Moss Beach, and Santa Cruz. Holidays were always with Alfred's local sisters and their families in the Bay Area.

Each summer, the Russo family would travel to Chico to visit the Lucido family, Alfred's sister Teresa, her husband, Antonino, and their children. Barbeques, card games, bocce ball, and so much laughter during those visits are fond memories for all the Russo family.

As her children grew older, Rosilde rejoined the workforce as an associate at TJ Maxx in San Mateo. In 1992, Alfred retired from American Terrazzo in San Francisco and the couple moved to Chico to be close to their Lucido family relatives. Rosilde took a part time job at Ross Dress for Less, which allowed her and Alfred many opportunities for travel.

These were some of their happiest years, as they traveled to France and Hawaii, and enjoyed cruises to Alaska and South America. They also enjoyed social events with the Chico chapter of Sons & Daughters of Italy.

Alfred Russo passed away last summer at the age of 93. Their fifty-six year marriage was the core of Rosilde's joy and strength.

Rosilde is survived by her four children, Federico Russo, Franca Rivera, Fiorella Russo-Jang, and Fabio Russo, and four grandchildren, Siena and Alyssa Rivera, and Sarina and Marco Russo.

Her love for her family, delicious Italian cooking, and bountiful gardens will be remembered by all who knew her. Rosilde passed away in Chico, California, on January 17, 2024 at 80 years old.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 27th at 10am, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (416 Chestnut St.,Chico) for Rosilde Russo.

Visitation will be Friday evening, January 26th, from 5 until 8 p.m. at the chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home (626 Broadway, Chico), with the Deacon arriving at 6 p.m. Mausoleum entombment will follow at Glen Oaks Memorial Park (11115 Midway, Chico) after mass on Saturday, January 27th.