John Anthony Russo
elevated 3pkb2 January 5, 1949 ~ July 6, 2025
elevated 3pkb2 Visitation
Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m.
Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated 3pkb2 Funeral Mass
Friday, July 11, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Chapel of St. Joseph at Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home
211 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 3Z6
elevated 3pkb2 Cremation
To be held privately
elevated 3pkb2 Obituary
It is with heavy hearts and a profound sense of loss we announce the peaceful passing of John Anthony Russo on July 6, 2025 at Mackenzie Health Hospital in Richmond Hill at the age of 76. Born on January 5, 1949, Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, Italy to parents Domenic and Maria. Beloved husband of Dianne for 54 years of marriage. Loving father of David, Andrea (Emanuel), and Michael (Sarah). Proud Nonno of Julia, Lukas, Anthony, Neda, Stella, Mikaela, Landon and Leo. John enjoyed the cottage, beach, endless sunsets, and he had a great love for music and enjoyed playing his guitar. His grandchildren, also lovingly known as his “crazy eights”, were always the joy in his heart. He will be missed by his loving brother Felice and sister-in-law Yolanda. Caring brother-in-law of Dennis and his sister-in-law Beverley.
John will be sadly missed and held dear in the hearts of his nieces, nephews and many extended family and friends. He will be lovingly remembered and never forgotten.
Your thoughts and kindness are truly appreciated during this time of sorrow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in honour of John Anthony Russo can be made to Princess Margaret Hospital, Southlake Hospital or Mackenzie Health Hospital.
Linda, Fred, Andrew , Alex, Luc and family. I had every intention of coming out to the visitation today, but life doesn’t always agree with intentions. Wishing my deepest condolences for your loss, which extends to all of your family Linda. I have said this before, but I actually do believe that there is a greater life above and everyone will be reunited with those that left us prior.
I remember discussions about “Citizen Kane” with John, his deep insight, sharp mind, a real Renaissance man. He will be missed but not forgotten.
Sincere condolences to Dianne and la famiglia.
We are so very sorry to hear about the passing of John. He was a fun loving guy and we always enjoyed seeing him at family parties. Our condolences to Dianne and family. We will all miss John but we will not forget him. Rest in peace. Kim and Ernie Screen and family.
Dianne and Family – please accept our deepest condolences. We’ll miss John’s smiling face and visits when you came to Woodland Beach. May he rest in peace.
John Meekings and Family
For over 61 years you have been the best a friend could be.Both you and Dianne brightened my life. All the laughs, adventures, and friendship
John our lives can never be the same without your humour, guitar interludes, the treasure box -and so many wonderful happy memories because of you
You will be greatly missed
We love you
John was a true friend. He would be there for you in a heart beat. I went to Oakwood Collegiate with John and became good friends with Dianne as well.
I will truly miss you John but will cherish the memories of all our times together.
Dear JR (aka “Sir”)
I know we had a short time together but I want you to know how much those moments meant to me. Thank you for welcoming me so openly into your home, for singing to the oldies with me at the cottage, and for your sense of humor. You made me laugh every single time, your perfectly timed wit and the way you delivered a joke – had me bursting out laughing. Dianne, David, Andrea, Michael and family—my heart is with you. I’m so deeply sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort in the love that surrounds you and in the many lives he touched—mine included. He will be missed.
John 16:22
“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
John can’t think of you without a big smile and so many wonderful memories
You brightened everyone’s life with your ‘jokes’ guitar renditions, treasure box and simply being a loving and genuine person and the best person I had the privilege of knowing for the last 50 years
Life will not be the same
You will be greatly missed
Dear Dianne and family,
So sorry to hear the passing of John, such a special man, caring thoughtful and so friendly and always a nice smile. My deepest heartfelt sympathies to you all.
May your beautiful memories comfort you at this difficult time and always. May he rest in peace.
Dear Dianne and family,
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss. I worked with John at TD and he was part of our car pulled group. John was such a nice and kind man. May he rest in peace.
May the Lord grant you and your family comfort and peace during this difficult time.
Dear Dianne,
I’m so sorry to hear of John’s passing. You and John both are incredible human beings, and as neighbours to my parents, we all consider you family. This I know. We all were heartbroken to hear the news. Please accept my condolences to you and all your family. I won’t forget John, and all the conversations I had with him over the years. He was a kind, gentle man, with quite a sense of humour. I’m so grateful we got to bring my parents to the cottage for some quality time with you both. Please let us know if there is anything I can do to help you through this difficult time. May John’s memory live on through stories, pictures, and conversations. Again, Im so sorry for your loss.
I worked with John for many years at TD Bank. He was always cheerful, approachable and had a great sense of humour. He, of all people, did not deserve to suffer as he did in his later years. Through it all, John remained as positive as possible. He was truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever known and he’ll be dearly missed.
Enjoyed our time working together at TD. Thoughts are with all of you at this difficult time.
Dear Dianne and family,
I am very saddened to hear about your beloved dad and father and grandfather,
John was the most wonderful man, well loved Neighbour and friend to both my parents Dina & Issie and myself.
He always made the time to come and chat with my parents and I . A heart of gold and true gentleman. He was so kind. A big supporter of my charity bike rides Always cheering me on. He will be greatly missed.My condolences to all the family May he rest in peace.
Dear Dianne and family,
I was very sad to hear about Johns passing away. I got to know you and John over the past few years while visiting Alyssa, Issie and Dina. John was a very nice man and always engaged in conversations.
My deepest condolences to you and your family
John, you will be so very missed. You were kind and dear to our hearts and cherish the times we all spent together.❤️
Dianne, David, Andrea, Manny,Michael and Sarah, and to all your wonderful grandchildren and your loving brother & sister-in-law:
Felix & Yolanda
‘The Russos from the south’ as John, affectionately called us, send our deepest condolences. John lived his life with joy! Always planning his next project, cottage time=family time, he loved to vacation with Dianne, Felix & Yolanda to Florida, Sicilia, Philadelphia and many more beautiful destinations. Our beautiful and fun memories of our time together in early 2000’s, when we vacationed in Toronto will always be dear in our hearts! John’s emailed jokes are still saved on our computer!John could joke about his battle with the side effects of his leukemia treatments, to lighten your worries, about what he’s suffering with. John you’re a warrior and an amazing example of kindness, thoughtfulness that we should emulate.
John I know you’ll be joking and laughing with my dad, like you did when the Russos were together!
John, you’ll will always be loved and remembered forever!
Love, Your Russo cousins and our families 💔
Dear Diane and family. So sad to hear about John’s passing. Our condolences, prayers and love to you all.
Dear Dianne and family,
Issie and I are saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend John who was like family to us. We are going to miss his visits dearly. He was always caring and kind to my husband and I. Our condolences to all the family . And we will miss him terribly. May he rest in peace
Dear Dianne and family,
We are so sorry to hear the passing of John. He always had a smile and a kind word and was always such a hoot to talk to, with his sense of humour.
He will be deeply missed.
Our heartfelt condolences to Dianne and the family. John was such a fun loving cousin and such a jokester. I enjoyed seeing him at all the family gatherings and will miss his smiling face and happy disposition.
Condolences to all of the family. Johnny will be greatly missed.
Johnny was a wonderful friend to both of us for oh so many years. We loved him dearly.
He was kind, sweet and personable and we loved sharing time with him and Dianne.
There are a couple of things that Denny said he will never forget….
-Johnny always had a strong love for music and Denny has fond memories of the two of them playing guitar and singing old tunes together.
-The other is the regular phone calls over the last few years that they shared for health updates and a few laughs.
A life lived like Johnny’s with so much love will never really end, his memory will go on forever in the hearts of all of us that remember.
We will miss you Johnny 5!
To Mike and the whole family, I’m sorry to hear of John’s passing. He was a kind man with a great sense of humor. His heartfelt presence will definitely be missed. My deepest sympathies to you and your whole family. God bless you JR, you will missed
My condolences to Dianne and family . I considered John to be a kind and cheerful gentleman. He was a pleasure to know.
I was saddened to learn of John’s passing, sincere condolences Dianne and your family! Prayerful for strength in the days ahead.
The loss is immense but so is the love and memories left behind.
Kathryn and Don Blain
John excelled in so many ways. Huguette and I were so fortunate to have you both with us on so many joyful journeys. Now that his gallant fight has come to an end, may he always rest in peace