John Russo, age 78, a long-time resident of Darien, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died peacefully at home on Sunday, September 22, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

John is survived by his adoring wife of 60 years, Susan Russo and their children; John M. Russo and wife Susan; Joseph Russo and wife Kelly; Susan Buesing and husband James; and Jennifer Eldredge and husband James; his grandchildren John M. Russo Jr. (Alex), Lauren Bethea (Mike), Julia Russo (William Golonka), Tyler Russo, Connor Russo, Jake Buesing, Ryan Buesing, Lily Buesing, Brady Eldredge, William Eldredge and his great-granddaughter Sophia Bethea. He is also survived by his siblings Constance Scalise (Richard), Joanne Wood (Mark), and Dean Russo (Kim) and his loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Born April 22, 1946, to Dominick and Grace Russo, John grew up in Stamford Connecticut. It was there that he met the love of his life, Susan Biggar, at the age of 14. Their love and commitment to each other were evident to all who knew them. They shared a bond that grew stronger over their 60 years of marriage, providing a beautiful example of enduring love.

John was a man whose life was defined by hard work and devotion to his family. For over 58 years, John worked as an operating engineer and was a proud member of Local 478 International Union of Operating Engineers, a role he cherished and excelled in. John’s love for his work was only surpassed by his love for his family. John’s family was always his top priority, and he made countless sacrifices to ensure their happiness and well-being. John instilled in his children the values of hard work and perseverance, leaving a lasting legacy that will be carried on throughout many generations.

John enjoyed the fruits of his labor, which included trips to Italy, Vermont, Wildwood, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, cruises, and many, many road trips in the van. And when they weren’t traveling, John and Sue could be seen walking hand in hand down Mansfield Avenue.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 26, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Lawrence Funeral Home in Darien. Funeral Services will be held at St. John Church of Darien on Friday, September 27, at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien.

Memorial donations may be made to RVNA Health Hospice Services, 24 Governor Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the patient care teams at Smilow Cancer Center, Bridgeport Hospital Interventional Radiology, and RVNA Health Hospice. John will be deeply missed by all who knew him.