GLOUCESTER: Alice F. (Cluney) Russell, 89, formerly of Sheedy Park, died early Tuesday morning, February 19, 2008 in the Golden Living Center, where she had resided since March of 2004. She was the wife of the late Frederick F. “Pete” Russell, Sr. who died in August of 1994. They had shared fifty-five years of marriage.
Born in Gloucester on January 1, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Nellie (Whall) Cluney. In 1955, she and Pete moved to Newport, Rhode Island; first for the fishing industry and he later joined the Merchant Marines.
They resided in Newport for over thirty years, before moving back to Gloucester in 1980. While there, she was employed as a domestic by the Newport School for Girls and later for the Naval Justice Academy, until her retirement. As a young woman, she worked at the former D.O. Frost Stocking Factory, the Cape Ann Laundry, Frank E. Davis Brothers Fish Company.
The lure of her family and her favorite place in the world, Niles Beach, inspired her to get her driver’s license in her late forties. She then purchased a Plymouth Fury, which she drove back and forth to Gloucester as often as possible.
She was a longtime communicant of the former St. Peter’s Church and a member of the Blessed Virgin Sodality. She also enjoyed many years dancing with the Cape Ann Seniorettes. She delighted in filling her days helping her family in any way she could. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by a her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy J. and John A. Arnold, seven grandchildren, Kendra L., wife of N. Scott MacFarland, Cynthia L., wife of Raymond Mackey, Kenneth A., husband of Carolyn Arnold, Julie A., wife of John B. Nicastro, Kristin J. Roderick, Brenda A. Russell and Christopher M. Russell, twelve great-grandchildren, Kevin and N. Michael MacFarland, Keith, husband of Grace White, Wayne, husband of Cynthia Grossi, Jonathan and Jeremy Nicastro, Andrew Lezynski, Kara Graziano, Jacob and Emily Arnold, Mikayla Mackey and Daniel Zurbrigg, and a great-great-granddaughter, Kazira Slocum. She also leaves her sister, Helen, wife of Valdor Burgess, a brother, Francis, husband of Nancy Clooney, a sister-in-law, Doris Russell and brother-in-law, Philip Russell, her former daughter-in-law, Minnie (Sheehan), wife of Donald Pollard, her godson, Joseph Pratt, and among her many special nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, she leaves a niece, Joyce McPhail, and many dear friends. She was also predeceased by her son, Frederick F. Russell, Jr., a great-grandson, Matthew W. Lezynski, two sisters, Gladys Patrican and Mary Whitten, and her brother, Joseph “Mike” Clooney.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning in the St. John the Baptist Church, Essex at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday afternoon in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 2 – 5 p.m. In lieu flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Anthony “Mooter” Albert Scholarship Fund, c/o Mary Ann Boucher, 93 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery.