Bertha Mary Buchanan Russo passed peacefully at home in Miami on Friday, December 26, 2014 with her beloved dog, Daisy Mae by her side. She was the daughter of the late James and Beatrice Buchanan and sister of Shirley Buchanan Hoofnagle (Bruce) and Janet Buchanan Facenda (Jimmy). She was previously married to the late Joseph P. Russo, Sr. with whom she shared six children: Joseph P. Russo, Jr. (Sandra), Cynthia L. Russo, Matthew J, Russo II, James B. Russo (Karen) Rosemarie Russo (Lisa) and Mary Beth Russo Blackwell (Alex). She had eleven grandchildren (Rebecca, Christina, Matthew, Buck, Joey, Merci, Anthony, Brandon, Caitlin, Andrew & Emily); seven great-grandchildren (Marcus, Joshua, Austin, Alyssa, Matthew, Enzo & Blair). She also had numerous nieces and nephews and was a loving mother to so many more.

She was a founding member of the Church of the Resurrection in Portsmouth, VA and was very active in the Parish as well as her community.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday December 30, 2014 in Church of the Resurrection, 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, by the Rev. Jet Garcia. The family will receive friends Monday at the church from 7 to 8:00 p.m. A Reception to celebrate her life will be held immediately following the funeral at The Ambassadors Club of Portsmouth 364 Peninsula Ave. Portsmouth, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to The Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org. .B.W. Foster Funeral Home, Portsmouth is handling the arrangements and condolences may be registered at bwfosterfuneralhome.com.