Marian Lyons Russell

Marian Vitullo Lyons Russell, formerly of East Greenbush and more recently of Brunswick, NY, born February 14, 1925, died December 15, 2017 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy after a long illness. Born in Niagara Falls, NY to Nicholas and Helen Vitullo, Marian met her first husband, William Lyons, Jr., when they attended the State College for Teachers (now the University at Albany) in Albany, NY. Married in 1949, Marian and Bill served as house parents at the college until the birth of their first child, also named William. Another son, Timothy, and two daughters, Veronica (Ronnie) and BethAnne, soon followed. They moved to a home in East Greenbush, where they made many wonderful life-long friends. Homemade Halloween costumes, first-rate cookies and pies, a love of Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra, and an occasional green thumb are some of her "kids'" best memories of their Mom. Marian and the kids lost Bill when he passed away unexpectedly in 1970. In 1969, Marian began volunteering as a teacher's aide at the Wildwood School in Albany. In 1973, she began teaching at Wildwood, eventually rising to a position in which she designed, implemented, and directed a program that provided home training services to parents of learning disabled and autistic children. In 1973, Marian married her second husband, Kent D. ("Bud") Russell, and gained two terrific stepchildren, Toni Russell Lobdell and Kent M. Russell. Marian and Bud were both avid golfers, who took great pleasure in their weekend foursomes and annual golf vacations, most often in Vero Beach, FL. In 2005, Marian and Bud moved to an apartment in the Brunswick home of their son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Deb Lyons, becoming well-known in the community as the #1 fans of their grandsons' various sports teams. Since Bud's death in 2010, Marian has lived a quiet life, cared for by Deb, Bill, and several dedicated caregivers. Predeceased by her parents; her two husbands; her brother, Nicholas Vitullo; her sisters-in-law, Rita Miller, Margaret Vitullo, Mariba Vitullo, and Jean Barile; and by her beloved beagle, Rocky. Marian is survived by her brother, John Vitullo; and her children, William Lyons (Deborah); Timothy Lyons (Nancy); Veronica Lyons; BethAnne Poliquin (James); Toni Lobdell (Scott O.); and Kent M. Russell. She is also survived by her twelve grandchildren, Scott K. Lobdell (Jennifer); Heather Lobdell Hodsden (Keith); Christopher Poliquin (Erin Coutts); Helen Lyons Poliquin (Juan Manuel Sayago Gomez); William A. Lyons; Patrick Lyons (Ricki); Corey Russell; Tyler Russell; Nicholas Lyons; Matthew Lyons; Mary Katharine Lyons; and Anthony Lyons, and by seven great-grandchildren, Hannah and Alec Lobdell; Lauren, Daniel, Abigail and Zachary Hodsden; and Theodore Poliquin. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Her family would like to thank the staff at Samaritan Hospital (6th floor); the Danforth Adult Home and the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, both in Hoosick Falls; and The Community Hospice for the care they provided at various steps in Mom's journey, and for the advice, support, and concern they showed to her family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of these very worthy organizations. A brief service will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 21st at the William J. Lyons Funeral Home on Washington Avenue in Rensselaer, NY. Friends are welcome to visit her family prior to the service, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment immediately following in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Mom lived a full and active life, and we are at peace knowing she has finally been granted her wish of being reunited with all her loved ones.