Irene Cecelia Russ

December 11, 1930 – May 4, 2026

Loving Mother and Friend

Irene Russ was born in Pittsburgh on December 11, 1930. Irene passed away on May 4, 2026.

She is now reunited for eternity in Heaven with her beloved husband, Edmond Russ, who preceded her in death in March 2022 after 73 years of marriage. In 1933, her father relocated Irene and her mother to Long Beach just before the 1933 earthquake. After her father finished working on the Hoover Dam project, the family moved to Redondo Beach.

Irene graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1948. She was Queen of Job’s Daughters, Bethel 61, in Redondo Beach. She attended El Camino College, where she met Edmond Russ (Rusciolelli) in a law class. They married in 1950 at First Methodist Church. While Ed attended law school, Irene worked as a blueprint planner engineer at North American Aviation in El Segundo near LAX.

After Ed graduated from UCLA School of Law, they settled in Gardena and were blessed with four daughters and one son.

Irene devoted herself to raising the children and supporting the community. She served as Girl Scout Area Cookie Chairman, attended countless sports events, participated in activities at St. Anthony of Padua School, and hosted many swim parties and barbecues for family and friends.

She also worked alongside Ed in his private legal practice as a legal secretary. Together they founded Russ Property Management in Gardena. Irene was proud to serve as First Lady of Gardena during Ed’s terms as mayor and council member from 1969–1970 and 1974–1982. Together they attended government events throughout the United States and Europe while Ed served as Chairman of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission.

Irene was active throughout the South Bay community. She was a charter and honorary life member of Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center beginning in 1959. She served as President of Camelita Guild for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Ambassador for Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Treasurer for Montecillo HOA, Director for the Gardena Area Chamber of Commerce, member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, South Bay Law Wives, LeTip Network, graduate of Lifespring and The Forum, supporter of Rainbow House, Director for the Torrance Visitors and Conference Bureau, Secretary for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Republican Women Federated, and member of the Peninsula East Social Club where she enjoyed playing bridge. She also served as American Cancer Chairman, member of El Camino Lions, President of the Kiwanettes and Knights of Columbus Wives Club, and hosted foreign students for Marymount California University.

Irene and Ed welcomed students, teachers, Japanese delegation of mayors, and Lions International guests through the Gardena Sister City relationship with Ichikawa. Irene especially enjoyed improving her Japanese conversation skills. They were also members of Rolling Hills Country Club.

After their children were raised, Irene founded her travel agency, Age of Travel, in Torrance. She and Ed organized golf tours for Rolling Hills Country Club, escorted cruises, and led world tours, allowing them to travel to five continents and more than 50 countries.

Irene’s hobbies included swimming, scuba diving, tennis, golf, biking to Santa Monica, playing the piano, crossword puzzles, reading, dancing, ethnic dancing, gardening, especially growing tomatoes, and watching hummingbirds.

She was known for gathering family together for every possible occasion. Irene loved hosting holidays and birthdays and was especially known for her cooking. Ed taught her to make Italian spaghetti sauce inspired by his Italian parents. Her specialties included Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine. Irene and her daughter Cynthia once owned a sandwich restaurant in Gardena called The Grub Hut.

Irene leaves a legacy of love and loyalty to the family she cherished above all else. She believed deeply that “La Famiglia è Tutto” — family is everything. She loved games with family members, including backgammon, bridge, Mexican Train, and Rummikub.

Irene and Ed hosted annual family reunions at their home in Lahaina, where they enjoyed ocean activities, collecting seashells and Maui glass, whale watching, sunsets, Hawaiian music, dancing and precious family time together. They purchased their Maui home in 1969 and created many cherished memories with lifelong Hawaiian friends. On July 2, 1980, their 30th wedding anniversary, they were presented “The Key to Maui County” by Mayor Hannibal Tavares. They were members of the Royal Kaanapali Men’s and Women’s Club.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Schlernitzauer Rudder and Mary Linko Rudder; stepmother Dorothy Snow Rudder; brother Jack Rudder; sister-in-law Ginger Schwartz; and husband Edmond Russ.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, adopted daughters, extended family, and dear friends throughout the world. She is survived by daughters Cynthia Cottrell and John Pena of Perris, California; Anne and husband Andreas Lang of Bend, Oregon; Linda and husband Dan Niezgodzki of Tijeras, New Mexico; Janette Roberts of Gardena, California; son David and Debbie Russ of Dundee, Oregon;, California; grandchildren Bryan Grosh and wife Vivian Ramos of Las Vegas, Nevada; Michelle Wisecaver Cloud of Salt Lake City, Utah; Michelle Hemingway and husband Jerry Hemingway of Long Beach, California; Josh and Jill Bettencourt of Torrance, California; Michael Cottrell of Virginia; Paul Wisecaver of San Diego, California; Carl and Brandi Wisecaver of Knoxville, Tennessee; great-granddaughter/grandson Sophia Bettencourt, Alyssa & Ryan Myles, great-grandson Jax Cloud; great-granddaughter Jemma Wisecaver; nieces and nephews Crystal Rudder Rubalcaba and Mark Rudder of Benton, Illinois; Clark Rudder and wife Monica of Harbor City, California; adopted daughters Cheryl Nakata of Gardena, Rose Moore of Gardena, and Martha Murphy Desmond of Cypress, California; nephew/niece Paul, Maureen, Peter and Matthew Linko of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and many other relatives and friends throughout the world.

“I had a wonderful life that God planned for me. I had the best of families and so much love. Don’t be sad because I died. Be happy because I lived. My wish for all of you is to live life fully, experience more joys than sorrows, smile always, and be kind to each other so that when you join me again, you will look back with few regrets.”

“Aloha ‘Oe… until we meet again. Look out Heaven, here I come!”

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church on July 24, 2026 at 10AM.

Please, no black attire. Tropical or floral dress is encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Communities Child or the Gardena Valley YMCA.