Floria Mary Riazzi Russo

Floria Mary Riazzi Russo

Our precious mother, Floria "Flo" Mary Riazzi Russo, 85, of Erie, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 25, 2022 at her home. She was born March 26, 1937 in Erie, daughter of Carmen and Phyllis Visale Riazzi.

Flo graduated from Strong Vincent HS and during her high school years, she met the love of her life, future husband of 62 years and future Erie Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Peter J. Russo. Flo was a talented athlete herself and an avid sports fan all of her life and much like her husband she knew more sports player's names and statistics across a broad range of sports (tennis, golf, basketball, college football) than most people could recall in a season. Some of her most enjoyable times included accompanying her husband to nation-wide college and high school basketball games and conferences over his 35-year career as a referee and Director of Athletics for Mercyhurst College.

Above all else, Flo's passion was her family. She treasured her children and grandchildren and loved spending time with them. Flo's children and grandchildren recall her distinct, very vocal support for them for decades of Erie grade school and high school basketball games. Flo never missed a game.

Flo enjoyed cooking for her family and having wonderful Italian family meals. She treasured family events and memorable times with her mother Phyllis, brother Carmen and his wife Ann, and sisters Gerry and Mary and their families as well as mother-in-law Minnie Russo, Ross and Frank Russo and families and her dearly loved sister-in-law Maryanne, as well as her many dearly-loved nieces and nephews. Flo had a vivacious personality and great sense of humor, she made friends everywhere!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Peter J. Russo, Sr; son, Peter J. Russo, Jr.; and sister, Mary Grace Szumigala.

She is survived by her three daughters, Natalie A. Corella and her husband Dr. John Corella; Mary Ellen Russo; and Stephanie A. Russo-Seneca and her husband Phillip Seneca; one son, Jon M. Russo and his wife Pam Russo; one sister, Geraldine Puskar and her husband Ron; one brother, Carmen Riazzi and his wife Ann; five grandchildren, John Joseph and Maria Corella, Dr. Lauren Russo, Nicolas, and Nathan Russo. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Service there at 12:30 p.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint George Church, 5145 Peach Street, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

A special hug to the wonderful staff at the DaVita Dialysis Clinic at the Millcreek Mall and Dr. Edward Clark, MD who took such good care of Flo for the last few years. She enjoyed visiting with them and loved treating the staff to goodies and always had a good word for each of them. The Russo family in honor of their mother would also like to express their sincere gratitude to Interim Healthcare, Flo's dedicated care team, Kathy, Sue Delio, Jazmin, Keisha, Rebecca, Shawn, Luke, and Anne Causgrove who visited and prayed with Flo often.

Memorials may be made in her honor to St. George Church, Peach Street, 5145 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509.