Susan Kay Russell

Susan Kay Russell, age 68, of Amberwood Manor at New Philadelphia, died Friday, May 8, 2015 in Union Hospital at Dover following a period of declining health.

A daughter of the late Dorson E. and Lena (Gervasi) Richardson, Susan was born at Dennison, Ohio on July 1, 1946.

She was a 1964 graduate of St. Mary’s High School at Dennison and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from Nazareth College at Kentucky. During her college years, Susan was a member of the Young Republicans Organization. Her efforts as a Student Representative for the GOP garnered an invitation to President Nixon’s Inaugural Ball. Years later, she served the Republican Party as a representative for President Ronald Reagan.

Professionally, Susan loved being in the classroom. As a teacher for more than 30 years, she was employed by the New Philadelphia City Schools having taught at West Elementary for 24 of those years and completed her tenure at South Elementary prior to her retirement in 2003. Her work in the classroom did not go unnoticed as she was awarded numerous accolades from the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers during her tenure.

Susan was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church at New Philadelphia and a former member of St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover, where she was a former member of the Altar Society. Her professional affiliations included the National Education Association, The Ohio Education Association and the New Philadelphia Education Association. In her free time, Susan loved cooking having created many of her own recipes through the years; combining those recipes with others, she compiled two different cookbooks.

Susan will be missed by her daughter, Maryann S. Russell (husband, Douglas Shepard) of California, a grandson and granddaughter, Jacob and Jordyn Shepard; an aunt, Irene Francis; an uncle, Joseph (Dorothy) Gervasi; and numerous cousins, Joan Weir, Nancy (Dick) Fondriest, Pamela Gervasi, John Gervasi, Mary K. Francis, Cheryl (Jack) Fickes, Ted (Linda) Swaldo, Gary (Patty) Swaldo, Dean Swaldo, Bill (Wilma) Swaldo,and Emmy (Ralph) King.

The family will greet guests on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory from 5:00 – 8:00 PM with a Christian Wake Service beginning at 7:45 PM. Father Jeff Coning will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10:00 AM in the Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery at New Philadelphia. Following the service, all are invited to share in a meal and fellowship in St. Ambrose Hall, adjacent to the church.

Memorial contributions in Susan’s name may be directed to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454 Alexandria, Virginia 22312.