Ursula Franco Russo died peacefully at home on July 4, 2020, after a courageous struggle with cancer. Her loving husband of 60 years, Leonard Nicholas Russo, and devoted sister, Joan Franco Briand, were at her bedside. Ursula was 83 years old and a Westport, MA resident.
Born in Fall River, MA on February 22, 1937 to the late Mary I. Mello Franco and the late Antone Enos Franco, Ursula shared the anniversary of George Washington’s actual birth date, a fact of which she was very proud. For that reason, it’s especially fitting she was released from her suffering on our country’s Independence Day. It’s also no coincidence there was a penumbral lunar eclipse and a spectacular July Black Moon that evening, welcoming her to the heavens.
Ursula grew up in Fall River and Swansea. She was a proud graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, Class of 1954, where she was vice president of the Portuguese Club. She matriculated at Bryant College, now known as Bryant University, then located in Providence, RI. She was a member of the sorority Alpha Phi Kappa, serving on the Social Committee. In 1956, she received a bachelor’s degree in executive secretarial medical science.
She met her future husband, Leonard, of Portland, ME and a fellow Bryant student, at a college square dance, and they were married on November 14, 1959. Along with her steadfast devotion to her husband, she retained her lifelong and enthusiastic love of all styles of dancing. The young couple moved to Swansea, MA, where, as longtime residents, they raised their two children and served as leaders in a variety of community activities, including scouting, children’s baseball leagues, and the high school marching band.
Ursula spent her early career as a medical secretary, and she worked at Bradley Hospital in Providence and for various physicians in the area. In the 1970s and early 1980s, she worked as a secretary in the Swansea, MA school system at Joseph G. Luther Elementary School and at Joseph Case High School. At the high school, she worked as the administrative assistant to vice principal Gerald Furtado, and alongside Mrs. Audrey Schott, administrative assistant to principal Paul Monahan. In the 1990s through the early 2000s, she worked as an administrative assistant in the managed assets department at Fleet Bank, which merged with Bank of America during her tenure, in Providence.
Having lost her eyesight to a rare genetic condition, PXE, in the early 1980s, Ursula became legally blind, and she made the most of her limited vision. She refused to accept that limited vision would impede her considerable abilities as a proud professional, wife, mother and grandmother. In her later years, she was devoted to listening to a wide variety of audio books as well as cooking from-scratch, authentic Portuguese and Italian-style meals and elaborate holiday feasts for her family.
Ursula also was devoted to the Catholic faith, and family members and friends who made her “rosary list” were extremely privileged. Ursula was tremendously proud of her Azorean Portuguese heritage, and she bequeathed her great pride to her children and grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Leonard, and sister Joan, who is married to Ronald Briand of Westport, Ursula is survived by her son, Leonard Nicholas Russo, Jr. of East Providence, RI, daughter Elaine Russo Friedman and son-in-law Gary Drew Friedman of New York City, grandchildren Grant Ethan and Halle Kate Friedman, and brother William Franco of Fall River, MA. She is also survived by her loving and large extended family, including Camilla and J. Phillip Raposa of Westport, MA; Grace and Arthur Cintron of Marlborough, MA, Josephine and Robert Malconian of Portland, ME, and numerous, cherished and beloved cousins, godchildren, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Ursula’s memory to Hope Health, 1324 Belmont St., Brockton, MA 02301.
Arrangements are private.
Ursula's Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed on the St. John the Baptist Westport Facebook page on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 10:00 A.M.