Silvana Rosaria (Russo) Laser
October 7, 1950 — January 14, 2014
Silvana Rosaria Russo Laser, resident of the Oakland Community and wife of Jack Laser, departed this life Tuesday morning, January 14, 2014 at the Methodist Hospice Residence in Memphis where she had been a patient for one week. She was 63 years of age and died following an illness of six months.
A Funeral Mass for Mrs. Laser was conducted at 10 A.M. Friday, January 17th at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Cordova with Father Robert Marshall officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.
Mrs. Laser was born October 7, 1950 in Asmara, Ethiopia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Giovanni Russo and Maria Fasani Russo. She received her education in the Ethiopian School System and was married June 3, 1972 to Jack Laser, who currently serves as Director for the Jackson State Community College in Jackson, Tennessee, who survives. Mr. and Mrs. Laser had been residents of the Oakland Community for the past nine years and were former residents of the Brownsville and Milan, Tennessee areas.
Mrs. Laser was an elementary teacher in the public school systems in earlier years and was a devoted Catholic and a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Cordova. Known as “Nonna” to her family, she will be remembered as a person with a deep love and devotion for her family and was known as an avid reader throughout her life.
In addition to her husband of 41 years, Mrs. Laser is survived by her daughter, Monica Tillman (Joe) of Oakland; her son, Marco Laser (Jayme) of Jackson, TN; three sisters, Santina Strasser of Washington State, Yolanda Russo of Italy, Rita Russo of Italy; three brothers, Benito Russo of Italy, Gianmarco Russo of Italy, Luigi Russo of Italy; and five grandchildren, Zachary, McKenna, Lauren, Allie and Holden.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Laser was preceded in death by her brother, Antonio Russo.
Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Marco Laser, Zachary Laser, Harry O’Steen, Joe Tillman, Gianmarco Russo and Berkley Cobb.
The family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148.