Paul Power Russell
May 4, 1924 to December 13, 2020
Obituary
Born in Port Union, Newfoundland to parents Ora and Hazen Russell, Paul grew up in St. John’s, NL. He graduated from Nova Scotia Tech with a B.Eng (Mech). He began his business career in the frozen fish industry and it was spent primarily with Bonavista Cold Storage Company, a family concern. He enjoyed the outdoors, was a knowledgeable stamp and gun collector and in an earlier period held a pilot’s licence. Throughout his life he was a strong supporter and a willing volunteer of the Anglican Church particularly the Cathedral. He was predeceased by the love of his life his wife Patricia Russell (nee Sharpe) in 2016, and his brother Roy A Russell, sisters June Marsh and Lois Batey and nephew C.T. Marsh and niece Susan Glicoes (Marsh). He leaves to mourn his sister Ruth Crewe (Mahon) and her children Paul, Erica, Matthew and Andrew Mahon. Also nieces Ann Mais, June Batey and Janet Russell and nephew Hazen Russell as well as many more from the Sharpe family. His many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews will have exceptional memories of their Uncle Paul and their holiday times spent in Newfoundland. The family wishes to thank Ruby Chafe for her many years of assistance to both Pat and Paul.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, December 17th. COVID-19 regulations apply. Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 18th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. from the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. He will be laid to rest beside his parents in the Anglican Cemetery, Forest Road following the service.
If you wish to attend the service please phone the Cathedral office at 726-5677 or contact the family or email Malcolm at mattmahon@shaw.ca.
Flowers from family members only is requested. In memory of Paul donations may be made to a charity of your choice. To send a message of condolence, please visit www.carnells.com.
I cannot express how much my family loved and respected Uncle Paul. He was a wonderful man. One of the most pleasant people I have ever met. And he loved my Aunt Pat, who he endearingly called Patty. She was a faithful Catholic and he a faithful Protestant which prohibited them from having children without sacrificing their faith but their love for each other made that sacrifice worth it. They would have been extraordinary parents. He had so much energy and was so much fun. His eyes twinkled when telling us of the day he climbed Gros Morne … in his leather shoes ! He wasn’t planning to climb the mountain, his friends were , but ….why not? He was the most patient caregiver throughout Aunty Pat’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. We will always be grateful to him for his love and support. He had a life well-lived.
To Paul’s family we would like to express our deepest condolences We had the good fortune to meet Paul while training at The Max Gym. He always had a smile and loved to chat.
He was an inspiration to us all and we were so sorry to hear of his passing
Sending condolences to Uncle Paul’s family, from his New Brunswick relatives. I was lucky to have met Paul and Pat several times when they visited my Father Charles Coakley (a cousin) and Grandmother Carrie (Russell) Coakley (Hazen’s sister). I also spent a couple weeks on the Rock , staying with Pat & Paul, travelling to Bonavista and Cape St Mary’s with him, and attending Ora and the Skipper’s 60th Anniversary! I enjoyed his company and learned things from him every time we met..
I had the pleasure of getting to know Uncle Paul during my time in St. John’s. He was a good man and his strength of character had a profound impact on me. He was a dutiful husband to Aunt Pat throughout her struggle with Alzheimer’s. He will be greatly missed.
The Russell Family
Even though I dont know any of you, I am compelled to offer my condolences on Paul’s passing
My connection with him and the Russell family goes back to my days in Fish Inspection and the Russell processing activities.
Just one word comes to mind–in line with my work and his–QUALITY. The products produced and the work carried out at Russell operations went along with the character of the owners because Paul was a Quality gentleman.
A long life, well lived brings many memories
God bless, RAY ANDREWS
Deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Philatelist Paul, a lovely man, who will be missed.
Uncle Paul,
You were one of the finest men I knew. You exuded a quiet strength that few people posses and your moral character was of equal might.
For me, you were the ultimate example of a good man and someone I highly respected and loved. You are adored and greatly missed.. Sleep well.
I will never forget Sunday dinners at Uncle Paul and Aunt Pat’s house growing up, with Aunt Noreen and my father, Duncan. By the time I was 12 or 13 I made whatever effort I could to get out going, but all these years later, having now said goodbye to them all, I look back on those memories fondly. In fact, to this day I have the little plastic keychain that came out of my crackers at one of our Christmas dinners. It’s still on my keys and I think of those times everyday when I see it. I wish I could sit and have tea with them all just once more at that house on Glenridge Crescent.
Shortly after I moved to the US for school my father passed away, leaving my dog Ralf with nowhere to go. But Uncle Paul swooped in and adopted him, and I know for a fact that Paul and Ralf became the best of friends. There are no words that could ever express my gratitude to Paul for giving my Ralfie the best possible life for his final few years. Any time I came home after that, I was sure to visit the little grave Paul made for him the backyard.
You’ll be deeply missed by many, Uncle Paul and you will always have my deepest admiration and gratitude. I’ll be making a donation in your name to the SPCA to hopefully help another little dog find a home as loving as yours always was.
My love and best to all. I’m sorry I can’t be there.
A little over three years ago, a sweet and silly 93 year old man came into my life. I knew that taking on a client of this age meant that I may see him through to the end, and for a little while, I was very afraid of this possibility. I made sure my CPR and First Aid skills were current; I heavily researched appropriate training modalities; I treated this person as if he was fragile, only to realize just how strong and resilient he was.
Shortly after the first time I saw him fall (and then tuck and roll, laugh, and climb his way back into a standing position), I let my guard down and began to have a little more fun. Soon he was swinging across the room using the TRX suspension trainer to signify the end of a set of squats, hauling heavy weights around, and chasing tennis balls down the turf. He walked to and from our sessions, even on the snowiest of days, during which many of my other clients would cancel.
Paul was so much more than a client. He was a special friend whom I loved very much. He came into my life to learn from me, and ultimately, I ended up learning from him. He has inspired me, and others, in so many ways. Our working relationship has shown me that personal training is not just about physical capabilities, but emotional connection; what Paul gained cannot be described as strength, alone, but community, belonging, and companionship.
Although Paul was not as fragile as I thought, he was also not invincible. My blissful ignorance to the impermanence of our relationship was shattered when I learned his health was declining. Our time together was spent sitting instead of working out, and I watched him change from one visit to the next.
Paul left us on Sunday, and the heart that has been heavy for months has been broken wide open. Anticipating his death was a certain kind of grief, acknowledging it has proven to be another.
I hold multiple truths as I recognize both gratitude and pain. I will never forget the ways our relationship shaped me and I commit to honouring Paul’s legacy.
I want to offer special thanks to Antonia Francis, Paul’s great niece, for sparking the relationship between us by suggesting that we train together. I am especially grateful to the family for including me in events outside of the gym, like Paul’s birthday parties- especially his rockin’ 94th when we all watched his big debut on CBC and drank Prosecco! I’m so sorry for your loss.
Uncle Paul, you were always kind, good-natured, intelligent, and devoted. We love you. Rest in peace.
Uncle Paul,
You were a wonderful person. A remarkable man. Our family loved you.
Uncle Paul, you will be greatly missed. You were a true gentleman, a loving husband, a devoted son and brother, and a wonderful uncle. Your ability to live life to the fullest, by taking joy in simple things and helping others, was inspirational. You lived 96 years in an explempary manner. I’m sorry I won’t be able to come to your funeral to honour you, because of travel restrictions, but you are in my thoughts.
You hold a special place in the hearts of the Parker and Sharpe family.
My condolences to Ruth and the extended Russell family.
So sorry to hear of Paul’s passing.. He was a very kind and gentle person. Paul was in the same class at St Bon’s as my husband Mike. We always enjoyed his visits. My sincere sympathy to Paul’s family..
Alice Finn
To a wonderful uncle who loved every moment of life. I cherish the memories very much❤️Ann Mais
My condolences to Paul’s family. He joined our Tai Chi class a few years ago and we so enjoyed having him. He enlivened the classes even though he thought we were too slow for him! May he rest in peace.
To Paul’s family: I got to know Paul through the Nova Scotia Technical College NL Alumni dinners at the Crow’s Nest Officers’ Club. Paul was a delightful gentleman and a wonderful supporter of our scholarship fund. He was most interesting to chat with and was always in a positive mood. He will be missed by his fellow alumni.
May He Rest in Peace.
Gary Walsh
My sympathy to family and friends of Paul Russell.I worked at Bonavista Cold Storage one time and got to know Paul and his family.He was a fine christain gentlemen who always had a smile and time for everyone. Eternal rest grant onto him o lord and may light perpetual shine upon him.
To Paul’s family, the Russells, the Mahons and the Sharpes, my heartfelt condolences on his passing. He and Pat were our wonderful neighbours, always so caring and helpful. As was mentioned in the obituary, he was a true outdoorsman and a memory I will not forget is Paul, just a few years ago, fixing something on his roof. Always in great humour, he will be missed by all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
The Kirby Family would like to pass along our sincere condolences to the Russell Family. Our Dad, Fraser Kirby, was a long time employee with Bonavista Cold Storage and many of Dad’s work roadtrips formed great memories for his son’s, especially those where we had to travel over the highway and drop of packaging to a plant worker at Goobies. These all happened when he worked at BCS.
Fraser respected Paul and the Russell Family. Sorry for your lost.
Wife Sadie Kirby -son’s Keith, Doug and Bob
Condolences to the family & friends of Uncle Paul
Please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of Paul. We lived across the street from Paul and Pat and our families knew each other very well. He was a true gentleman and very kind neighbor shovelling everyone out during a snow storm. My parents always spoke so highly of them. A life well lived.
Mary Kavanagh