Carmela "Millie" G. Russo, 94, died Wednesday, October 03, 2018 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Mrs. Russo was born May 21, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Vito and Angela (Macacuso) Galatioto. She lived in West Palm Beach, Florida and was previously from Somerset, NJ.

Mrs. Russo received her Bachelor’s Degree from Hunter College in NYC, Her M.E.D. from Rutgers University, her reading certificate from the State of New Jersey. She was a lifelong member of the National Education Association, the NJ Education Association and the NJ Retired Education Association.

Mrs. Russo was an Elementary teacher specializing in reading and language arts for both the talented and remedial students in the Franklin Township, Somerset Schools for 25 years. Prior to that, she worked for the Girls and Boys Scouts of America in the interracial service and was one of the founders of the first girl scouts troops in Somerset.

She was active in affirmative action and reading committees at the school. Carmela also played a large role in the committee to aid children with learning disabilities and was a member of the child study team. She organized many workshops for parents explaining both the reading and teaching programs of the district. She was the first to do an item analysis of the state minimum basic skills test, so that teachers could adjust their curriculum to the strength and weakness of the students. Carmela was also in the NJ council of the International Reading association, where she was a president. She attended many of the Board of Education meetings; through her efforts the board passed a policy honoring all of the staff, retirees and deceased members.

Mrs. Russo was predeceased by her husband, Santo Russo, her brothers, Natale Galatioto and Santo Galatioto.

She is survived by her daughter, Madeleine Christian; her sons, Michael and Vito Russo; her sister, Emily Caronia; her daughter in law, Denise Russo; her grandchildren, Albert III, Amanda, Christina; and her great-granddaughter, D’Amoura McPherson.

Family and friends may visit on Sunday, October 7th from 3-5 P.M. at Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton Street, Somerset, NJ 08873.

Funeral Mass will be held Monday, October 8, at 9:00 A.M. at St. Matthias Church in Somerset. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Piscataway.