Amy Sylvester Russell

Published 12:00 am Sunday, June 2, 2019

Amy Sylvester Russell passed away on May 28, 2019, surrounded by the love and the presence of her family and friends. Amy radiated joy. She was born in New Orleans, 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 ’80s, used copious amounts of hairspray to maintain the “big hair.” While attending Louisiana State University, she majored in Liberal Arts and minored in lots of parties, football games, her Delta Gamma sorority and any other fun activity she could find or create. During summers in college, she worked for the Republican Delegation at the State Capitol, through which she attended all of the best parties in Baton Rouge. 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 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, 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.

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 and 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; nephews Bowman Craddock, Everett Craddock, Oliver Craddock, Henry Berst, Armand Berst, Joshua Berst; and nieces Avani Sylvester and Miranda 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 p.m. until 8 p.m, with a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at the funeral home on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., followed by a Liturgy at noon at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 303 W. Main St., New Iberia, Louisiana.

To view online obituary, sign guest book, and view video tribute, please go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, 365-3331, is in charge of arrangements.