Gilda Russo's Obituary
Born to Frank Mesecchia and Betty Coletta in Casino, Italy on September 17, 1920, Gilda Russo (nee Masecchia) spent a week on Ellis Island in 1927. Gilda started her career with Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA). After WWII began she moved her employment to the Highland Park Ford factory, and even met and shook hands with Henry Ford the first in an elevator. Gilda met and married Dominic Russo at St Elizabeth’s church in Detroit on 19 February 1944. Dominic was also a Ford employee. Dominic and Gilda had two children, Anita (Johnson), born in 1945, and Frank, born in 1951. Both children and Dominic, have pre-deceased Gilda. After the death of her husband in 1976, Gilda worked on the dietician staff and retired from Mount Sinai Hospital in Detroit. Gilda was a lifelong Detroiter, and was thrilled to receive her 100 year birthday card from President Trump.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 25th from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hopcroft Funeral Home, 31145 John R. Road, (1 block North of 13 Mile Road, West side of John R. Road), Madison Heights, Michigan. Burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.
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