Blanche Codner Russell

Mummy was born Blanche Francis Codner in the remote rural district of Mahoe Walk in the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica on March 29th, 1927. She spent a happy childhood there living with her mother and grandparents. When she was 4 years old she discovered that a fire had started in the kitchen and alerted her grandparents. Everyone got out but the home burned to the ground. This childhood trauma affected her whole life and she recounted this experience frequently throughout her life. She was loved and very attached to her Grandparents, Muma and Pupa. She became a district midwife while a young adult. She later relocated to the island’s capital, Kingston, to join her older sister Olive, brother Varel and mother Sarah. Blanche lived in Kingston where she met and married Robert Russell with whom she had three children, Dawn, Opal and Robert (Bobby). She was widowed while in her thirties and was left with three young children to support. She migrated to New York and worked there as a Nursing Assistant at Beekman Memorial Hospital until her retirement. She then retired in Palm Bay, Florida and enjoyed her retirement traveling to Europe and the Holy Land with her Granddaughter. She loved the Florida weather and lifestyle. She was an active member of the Senior Center and took trips and participated in various activities with the group. Her passions were her children and her gardening. She often said she liked to plant things she could eat. Blanche moved to New Orleans, somewhat reluctantly, to be close to her daughter, Opal. She was already in her eighties and living independently but as her years advanced she needed to live close to family. She lived with her Grandson, who was her caregiver and companion, until his death in January 2022. Her health took a downward turn in January 2023 from which she never fully recovered, and she went into a rapid decline two days before her death. Present were her caregiver, Cutie and her daughter, Opal. Blanche was preceded in death by husband Robert Hugh Russell, her siblings Olive Codner, Varel Codner, Avenel Harris, Bertie Jackson, and her beloved Grandson Dirk Russell Miranda. Blanche leaves behind her loved ones to miss her, including her children, Dawn Russell (of Brooklyn, NY), Opal Russell Walker (Dr. George Walker), and Robert (Bobby) Russell (of New Rochelle, NY) and her “adopted daughter,” Karen Green. Her grandchildren, Malik Russell (of Brooklyn, NY) and Earamichia Brown (of McKinney, Texas). Great-grandchildren: Avery Russell, Caimile Perkins, Sienna Russell, Grayson, Judge and Adaiya Russell of New York, Virginia, and Florida. Niece Carol Jervis and nephew Dave Jackson (Diana) of Jamaica. Other family members include the Harris family and other friends and relatives. The family would like to thank the staff of Notre Dame Hospice, the office of Dr Thaddeus Temple, and with special thanks to her primary care provider, Candice Thompson, NP who cared for her with thoroughness, affection and humor. Special thanks to the ladies who cared for her along the way with special thanks to Pagelyn Bourgeois and Cutie who watched over her and her every breath at the end. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a funeral service at D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA 70125 on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm with livestreaming set to begin @ 12:50 pm by visiting www.facebook.com/D.W.RhodesFuneralHome/live. You must wear a face mask at all times and practice social distancing. Internment: private. Arrangements by D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook.

Blanche Codner Russell

March 27, 2023