Loreen Anne (Hencir) Russo

Loreen Anne (Hencir) Russo of Grand Rapids passed away Monday, April 1, 2024. Born on September 25, 1949.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Bertha (Wilson) Hencir, and her life partner of 24 years, Lawrence DeMaagd.

Surviving are her children, Gina Marie (David) Rea, Michael John Russo, and Gregory Frank Russo; grandchildren Ethan Rea, Isabella Rea, Leo Russo, and Arielle Perez (step grand child and Leo’s sister); and Loreen’s late in life discovered (2017) half brother, James (Kathy) Wiersma.

Also surviving are newly found nephews and nieces Brett (Wendy) Wiersma, Adam Wiersma, and Lauren Wiersma, along with a great nephew and niece, Brandon and Katelyn Wiersma.

Loreen was raised as an “only child” on the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She learned waitressing at her parents’ small restaurants, the Yum Yum Grille, and later the Yum Yum Café. Loreen graduated from West Catholic High School, G.R. Junior College, and Michigan State University with high honors.

In 1970 Loreen married her first love from GRJC Speech Class, John F. Russo, and then worked several years in the family business, G.B. Russo & Son. After teaching 4th grade at Alger School, Loreen turned the bookkeeping and detailed office work which fit well with her quiet, analytic nature.

Loreen liked to read and organize things, so thus, she explored John’s Italian family tree on the Russo and Amante side, her mother’s English and French roots, and her father’s Polish and Czechoslovakian beginnings. She thanks Facebook for being able to keep in touch with Czech cousins (Zuzana Bohanna, Daniela Malinova and Petra Kocabova); and Yahoo E-Mail for keeping contact with her life-long French pen pal Catherine Reynier Coleno.

After divorcing John, Loreen met her second love, Lawrence DeMaagd. She used her office detail skills at Fire Pros Inc., Universal Insurance, and Compulit/Pitney Bowes. Larry and Loreen enjoyed several years of leisure traveling to parts of the US and Hawaii, the Bahamas, Europe, including Ireland, Spain, and Portugal, and also South America and Egypt.

To celebrate grandson Leo’s first birthday and Ethan’s 11th birthday, Loreen took her 3 children, spouses, and 4 grandchildren to Disney World, to make some fun memories.

She enjoys taking pictures of the grandchildren at the monthly family meal Get-Togethers, and is known as “Grandma Eenie”.

Loreen was thankful for a good life made rich and special by family.

Loreen’s children would like to say thank you to the staff at Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods for their care and kindness.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Loreen Anne (Hencir) Russo, please visit our floral store.