Visitation: Thursday, November 7, 2013 1:30-5:00 PM.

Service: Friday, November 8, 2013 12:00 Noon; Long Beach Colonial Mortuary 638 Atlantic Avenue; Long Beach, CA 90802.

Interment: Private

Obituary

Mary Rene Russell was born on March 1, 1960 to Samuel and Dolores Russell, in Los Angeles, California. To this union four beautiful girls were born, with Mary Rene being the third. Her baby sister, Evelyn D Omar preceded her in death. She is survived by her sisters, Dimitra L Smith and Rochelle Russell, nieces Tiffany L Embry, Angel M Harvey, Ebbie Omar, and Nicole Rene Smith who is also her God daughter, Nephew Muktar Omar, God daughter Ashley Rene Weinberg and a hosts of cousins and friends.

Mary grew up in Long Beach California and graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School on June 15, 1978.

To her family, she was Nay Nay, to her friends she was Mary. She had many passions; Bicycling, being on the water, traveling and exotic fish. For 17 years she work at a Exotic Fish hatchery, shipping exotic fish all over the world. Her favorite fish was the Koi and she had 2 huge ones, their names were Fred and Ethel. After leaving that company, she started working at Bio Rad Laboratories Inc., and was a member on their bicycle team, cycling for causes like Cancer and Sickle Cell awareness. She was with them for 13 years, up until her passing.

But the water, now that was her favorite! She couldn't swim a lick, but the girl owned her own jet ski, and would ride it on the lakes, with not one but two life jackets. That was our Nay Nay. She did what she wanted to do, and pushed any obstacles out of her way. Her pass time was researching and buying antique bamboo furniture. She loved going to flea markets, antique stores, swap meets in order to find that special piece.

Nay Nay was a loyal and true friend to many. She was always there and made herself available whenever they needed her to provide support or a shoulder to lean on. She touched the lives of all who knew her, especially the children. She had a special love for children and they too loved her back. She had three God daughters in which she loved and cared for deeply. And also her little munchkins, the Rascon family, in which I will also say her adopted children, because she loved and cared for them so very much, and they were a big part in her life.

She will truly be missed by those who knew and loved her.