Amy Russell

Amy Sylvester Russell passed away on May 28, 2019 surrounded by the love and presence of her family and friends. Amy radiated joy. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 19, 1969, the lively third child of Dr. and Mrs. Roland Sylvester. As the baby sister of Robin and Paul, she grew up in New Iberia, attended St. Edward’s School through third grade, and graduated from Mount Carmel Academy in 1987. During high school, she was a cheerleader for Catholic High School, and like most girls in the 80’s, used copious amounts of hairspray to maintain the “big hair.” While attending Louisiana State University, she majored in General Studies and minored in lots of parties, football games, her Delta Gamma sorority and any other fun activity she could find or create. She worked for the Republican Delegation at the State capitol during college, through which she attended all of the best parties in Baton Rouge. During her last semester of college, Amy was an White House intern under George H.W. Bush with his Thousand Points of Light program. After graduation, Amy worked in Baton Rouge for a while, and that’s when she met the love of her life Kelly Russell. A job transfer landed her in Chicago but after one incredibly cold Illinois winter, she realized that she missed the warmth of the South and more importantly, she missed Kelly. They married on May 4, 1996 at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in New Iberia, Louisiana, and settled in Atlanta where they welcomed Stephen in September 1999, and then Katie and Nicholas only 14 months later. Parenting three children under the age of 2 prompted a move back to New Iberia, Louisiana where Amy’s parents, affectionately known as Papa and Tootsie, could be a part of their grandchildren’s lives and provide much-needed support to Amy and Kelly. Amy would often say that the best decision she ever made was to marry Kelly and the best thing she ever did was to stay home and raise her children, the absolute joys of her life. As a bonus, Amy and Kelly welcomed William to the family in 2004. Amy was a wonderful Mom to her four children, doing her best to attend every game, match, meet, and award ceremony that she could, even when attending events became a challenge. Amy loved to travel. She spent time in 25 states, 18 countries, and had only 4 places left on her bucket list at the time of her passing – a remarkable accomplishment. One of her goals in life was to instill in her children a love of adventure and travel, just as her parents had done for her and her siblings. Amy never met a stranger, and once she gained a friend, they were friends for life. Until the end, she was close with her Mt. Carmel classmates, her Delta Gamma Sorority sisters, her Pawley’s Island “Fun Girls,” and of course, her Village. These friendships were in addition to the multitude of friends she collected in many areas including the school communities of her children, her church family, and the New Iberia community as a whole. Amy had a way of making you feel special and important, a true gift. Amy enjoyed her New Iberia community and was active in several organizations, such as Les Jeunes Amies, Berry Queens, Fortnightly X, and Las Reinas Pasadas of the Mystic Krewe of Iberians. Amy was the 2018 Queen of Iberians, another bucket list item checked. It took about five minutes for Amy to be coerced into being one of the first queens to compete in the inaugural Berry Queens Pageant in 2008. She electrified the crowd as Queen Killowatt. She eventually became a Berry Queen dropout but held a special place in her heart for the fabulous women who made up the group. In December 2015, Amy’s world shifted when she was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. While many would face such a diagnosis with uncertainty and fear, Amy, with Kelly’s steadfast support, faced it head on. If it was at all possible, she lived bigger and seized every opportunity to make great memories with her family and friends, a lesson for everyone around her. She also grew in faith, accepting God’s will for her life, despite the fact that it was not her own. Throughout the course of her illness and treatment, Amy smiled, and endured her suffering without complaint. She willed herself to walk into St. Peter’s Church for Nicholas and Katie’s high school graduation, only one week before her passing. The bible verse chosen by the graduating seniors to symbolize their high school years could not have more perfectly described Amy’s courageous battle with cancer: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, there is, in store for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Celebrating her life after her passing are her devoted husband, Kelly Russell, her children, Stephen, Nicholas, Katie and William Russell, her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Roland Sylvester (Sue), sister Robin Sylvester and her children, Bowman, Everett and Oliver Craddock, brother Paul Sylvester, his wife Sara and their daughter Avani Sylvester, her in-laws Mr. and Mrs. John Russell (Cheryl), brothers-in-law, JC and Andy Russell, sister-in-law, Kim Berst, and her children Henry, Armand, Miranda, and Joshua Berst. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Helen and Joseph Whiteman, her paternal grandparents Lelia and Dillard Sylvester, and her mother-in-law Mary Dixon. The family would like to thank the following individuals and groups for their care during Amy’s illness: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Gene Brierre and the staff of Louisiana Oncology Associates/OLOL Infusion Center, Iberia Medical Center (specifically all the ICU nurses), Dr. Bill Elliott and staff, Acadian HomeCare of New Iberia, and Heart of Hospice. Special thanks to Dr. Thomas Borland, a great doctor and an even better friend, for his extraordinary devotion to Amy’s care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sallie Astor Burdine Breast Foundation (breastoncology.com/the-foundation). Visitation will be at Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, Louisiana on Monday June 3, 2019 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, with a Prayer Service at 7:30pm. Visitation will continue at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 from 9:00 am until 11:30 am, followed by a Liturgy at noon at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 303 W. Main St., New Iberia, Louisiana. Entombment will follow in the church columbarium. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560 (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.