Michael Norman Russo

Abbeville —A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, honoring the life of Michael Norman Russo, 81, passed away February 11, 2023.  He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Rev. Louis Richard officiating the services.

Michael grew up working in the family business, the Abbeville Bottling Works home of the parish’s famous Joe D Pop Rouge as well as the Falstaff distributorship and was a member of the Louisiana Beer Industry League of Louisiana. In 1961 he began his career owning and operating The Sportsman, a marine dealership, and retired after 52 years. Mike was a member and past president of the Acadiana Boat Show Association, served as president of the Louisiana Marine and Motorcycle Dealers Association, vice president of the Graceland Cemetery, charter member of the Vermilion Boat Club serving as commodore, member and past president of the Abbeville Jaycees, and member of the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce board. He was also a long-time member of the Abbeville Lions Club and was a past president and held all other offices at some point through the years. He was also a member and past president of the Woodman of the World Camp 7. Michael was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church where he served on the church council and served as a trustee. He was a Eucharist minister, sacristan, and altar server. Mike made an ACTS retreat in 2018 and enjoyed and looked forward to making his yearly men’s retreat at Our Lady of the Oaks in Grand Coteau. In 2021, Mike and Edith proudly received the Bishop’s Medal for Service.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Edith Broussard Russo; his daughter, Kimberly Russo Scoggin and her husband, Steven “Skip” Scoggin of Mandeville, Louisiana; his son, Joseph D. “Joe” Russo, III of Los Angeles, California; two granddaughters, Lillian Beatrice “Lily Bea” Scoggin, and Mary Frances Scoggin both of Mandeville; brothers Joey Russo and  his wife Sue, Richard Russo, and Carlos Russo, all of Lafayette; brother-in-law, Louis Kendall Broussard and his wife, Julia of Milton.

He was preceded in death by his father, David J. Russo and his mother, Vivian Lafleur Russo; sister, Karen Russo Place; brother, Peter L. Russo; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dudley L. and Lillian P. Broussard.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, with visitation two hours prior to the funeral mass. A rosary will be said at 10:30 AM. Time of visitation is 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, funeral mass at 11:00 AM.

The Russo family would like to thank Hospice of Acadiana for their professional and compassionate care.