Geraldine D. Mills Russell, wife of Stuart Russell, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 13, 2023, at their apartment. She was 89 years old.
Geraldine was born at home on September 28, 1933, in Highland Lake, NY. She was the daughter of James G. Mills and Sophia S. Stellwagen Mills, and sister to her older brother, Kenneth. She grew up on the homestead, and in the family boardinghouse business. She graduated from Eldred Central School in 1950 and attended the newly opened Orange County Community College. She was in the first class to graduate from OCCC in 1952, earning a secretarial associate degree. Gerry met Stuart in the summer of 1954, and they married on September 13, 1958. Stuart and Gerry were 54-year residents of Goshen where they raised four sons, Mark, Keith, James and Matthew.
Gerry worked briefly for Rockland Power & Light as a secretary, before beginning her career as a legal secretary in law offices in New York and Maryland and then worked occasionally from home. She could cook, bake and sew, and enjoyed growing potted flowers and tending her rose bushes. She and Stuart were active in Harmony Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years and served on the Harmony Christian School Board. Every summer was spent at the family homestead in Highland Lake where she cultivated a vegetable garden, and enjoyed swimming, boating, and cooking meals for her growing family. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and loved her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. She and Stuart have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years Stuart Russell: her four sons Mark (Mary Jo), Keith (Kim), James (Marta) and Matthew (Laura): grandchildren Cayla, Erin, Alex, Jill, Adam, Anna, Christie, Douglas (DJ), Lyric and great-grandchildren Micah, Lindsey, Gavin and Lucy as well as niece Karen Miner and nephews Greg Mills and Stuart Mills. She was predeceased by her parents and brother Kenneth Mills.
Visitation will be on Monday March 20th from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon at Leptondale Bible Church, 1711 NY-300, Newburgh, NY 12550. A funeral service will immediately follow the visitation, with burial to follow in the Ulster County Veteran’s Cemetery in New Paltz Cemetery, New Paltz, NY.
Arrangements by the Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 38 Main St., Highland, NY 12528. For online condolences please visit our website at www.torsonememorial.com If desired, family and friends may make a memorial donation in her name to a charity of one’s choice.
