John Russell

John Russell (94), former Chicago resident, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2020.  John was a native of County Down, Ireland and a war veteran, the recipient of the bronze star and purple heart. John immigrated to the United States in 1949, arriving on the SS Washington. Initially, he worked for the Wonder Bread Company in Chicago.  John served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Subsequently, he attended the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he attained a degree in electrical engineering on the GI Bill.  This led to a 38-year career at Motorola where John worked on the first cellular phones.  John married the love of his life, Brenda Tinnelly, who he met at his sister Sadie’s wedding in their hometown, Rostrevor, County Down, Ireland.  John and Brenda were married 59 years, have two sons Dan and Gerard and were parishioners of Our Lady of Victory Church.

John Russell was the son of the late John Russell and the late Bridget (nee McKernan). John is survived by his wife, Brenda (nee Tinnelly) of Park Ridge, Illinois. He was the loving father of Dan (Eva) Russell and Gerard (Mary Jane) Russell, proud Granda of Kathleen, Megan, Isabella, and Joseph.  He was the brother of the late Jimmy (the late Margaret) Russell, the late Harry (the late Kathleen) Russell and the late Sadie (the late Kevin) O'Hare, brother in law of Marie (Pat) Hughes, PG (the late Rosemary) Tinnelly, Leo (Judy) Tinnelly, and the late Donald (Josephine) Tinnelly and uncle of many nieces and nephews. Memorial Visitation Monday Nov 9th 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Cooney Funeral Home, 625 Busse Highway, Park Ridge.  Funeral Mass, Tuesday Nov 10th 10 a.m., St. Paul of the Cross at 320 South Washington Street, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Attendees must register for Mass using https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d45afab2da2ff2-baptism Masks and Social Distancing Required). Interment will be held at All Saints Cemetery. 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Irish Heritage Singers or Rainbow Hospice.

 A live stream of Mass can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/cooneyfuneralhome/ Interment All Saints Cemetery. For information please call 847-685-1002 or visit www.cooneyfuneralhome.com 

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