Irene Russ

Who can find a virtuous woman For her price is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10. Irene Puchta Granny Russ died Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, while in St. Louis to attend a celebration for one of her 11 greatgrandchildren. Traveling hundreds of miles from Baton Rouge at the age of 87 is consistent with her lifelong commitment to being fully present in the lives of those she loved. Granny nurtured four generations, demonstrating her love by making her home a welcoming and warm destination for countless family gatherings. Grannys resume is a life of putting love into action, for her children and her childrens children. Born in Chicago on March 23, 1923, Granny was a child of the Depression. After marrying Wilbur Paw Russ, she moved to Baton Rouge at the age of 19. Having begun working in her early teens in a Chicago bakery, she remained in the foodservice industry for the rest of her career. Granny was employed at the Log Cabin, Oak Manor and Giamancos, and for many years as manager of the cafeteria at the downtown Goudchauxs department store. In large part, she was successful because she never met a stranger and had an uncanny ability to create friends. A member of St. Gerard parish for decades, Granny was a tireless worker at the St. Vincent de Paul pantry. In later years, she became a member of St. Aloysius parish and was a fixture at the 4:30 p.m. Saturday Mass. Granny loved gardening, her dogs and shopping for shoes, a product of having to wear welfare shoes in her childhood. She and Paw enriched the lives of her grandsons, who continue to share stories of camping adventures. Granny was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Wilbur F. Russ son, George E. Russ brothers, Stanly Puchta, Joseph Puchta and Edward Puchta sisters, Mary Klein and Charlotte Lupo and soninlaw, Dr. Hector J. LeBlanc III. She is survived by daughters, Barbara Jean LeBlanc, of Snoqualmie, Wash., and Charlene Miller and husband Dr. Robert Miller, of Baton Rouge as well as grandchildren, Anne Amnuaphol and husband Yo, of Portland, Ore., Dr. Adrienne Bossio and husband David, of Snoqualmie, Russ LeBlanc and wife Renee, of Kirkland, Wash., Richard Russ and wife Christina, of Marrero, David Russ and wife Victoria, and Mark Russ and wife Holly, all of Covington, Major Zachary Miller and wife Elizabeth, of Fayetteville, N.C., and Joshua Miller and wife Tammy, of Chicago and greatgrandchildren, Noah Amnuaphol, Clay Amnuaphol, Julian Bossio, Aiden Bossio, Lily LeBlanc, Elliot Russ, Chloe Russ, Isabella Russ, Nathaniel Miller, Evelyn Miller and Darby Miller. The family extends heartfelt appreciation for the care and love provided by the staff of PACE Baton Rouge. Visiting at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Ave., Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Donald Blanchard, celebrant. Burial in Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Visitation

St. Aloysius Catholic Church
2025 Stuart Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA  70808
Saturday, August 28, 2010
10am

Service

St. Aloysius Catholic Church
2025 Stuart Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA  70808
Saturday, August 28, 2010
11am

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816