Viktoriya Russu

With sadness, love, and profound gratitude, the family of Viktoriya Russu announces her passing on March 12, 2023. She was a cherished and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who died peacefully at home, surrounded with love by her children in Dacula, GA. 

Funeral service will be held Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 2 PM at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel. Pastor Matei Istudor will officiate. Interment will follow at Hamilton Mill Memorial Gardens. An evening service will be held Friday, March 17, 2023 from 7:30 pm at the Gwinnett Romanian Baptist Church.

Viktoriya is survived by her children, Luba Pozhoga (Mikhael), Nadezhda Russu Rolea (Daniel), Vladimir Russu, Nikodim Russu (Lyubov), Vera Boderash (Florentin), Ivan Russu (Lena), Tatiana Barker (Donnie), Yaroslav Russu (Kristina), Sergey Russu (Lena), Zinoviy Russu (Galina), Daniela Russu, Aleksey Russu (Diana), Aleona Russu and Radu Russu Jr; 40 grandchildren and 3 great grandkids. Viktoriya is preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Radu Russu; her siblings, Ileana, Maria, and Ion. She is survived by her sister Olga and Lida; her brothers Ilie, Dumitru, Mihai, George and Vasili.

Viktoriya was born on February 5, 1946, in Chernivtsi, Ukraine to Zamfira and Nicolai Ionashku. From a very young age, Viktoriya dedicated her life to Jesus and was water baptized at 17 years old.

In 1967 Viktoriya married the love of her life, Radu, and was blessed with fourteen children that she adored dearly. She was awarded a gold medal for being a heroic mother.

Viktoriya touched all with her gentle heart, loving smile, and compassionate spirit.  Throughout her life and mostly by example, she taught her fourteen children selflessness, unconditional love, acceptance of what is, and the purity of giving to others. She was love in action.  But not only in action, but she was also beautifully strong, intelligent, and the most precious woman on earth. She was a dedicated wife and mother, a homemaker that kept the house in order, clean and cozy, and made sure all her children were well dressed. She always loved having her children gathered around her, having a wonderful time, singing, and reading the Bible.

Viktoriya kept a flower garden and made the most beautiful flower arrangements. She would hand her children bouquets of freshly picked flowers on the first day of school. Viktoriya decorated her home with

gorgeous house plants and enjoyed sewing and crocheting. She also kept a vegetable garden and of course, was a fantastic cook. Viktoriya always gave her children the best advice and encouragement. She taught them to be hard-working, prosper in life, love each other and most of all seek the kingdom of God. She was a great example of a true believer.

She taught us and led us to the right path of salvation through Jesus. She was a prayer warrior, always interceding for her children. She raised and taught her children to sing Christian songs together and

kneel down in prayer. When her family gathered, whether in the kitchen while cooking, in a living room, or even riding together in the car, one of her children would select a Christian song, even choir songs,

and everyone joined in and worshiped God.

Viktoriya went through many trials in her life living under the communist regime, in the former Soviet Union. She fought alongside her husband, Radu Russu, supporting and standing up for the truth of the

gospel of Jesus. They were persecuted for the gospel but had victory in Jesus. She never gave up, especially in her strong faith in God. Viktoriya showed strength and great courage through the temptation of the enemy. She is a tremendous inspiration to all of her children. Viktoriya sacrificed and cared a lot for Radu and their children. They placed six of their children through music school to be taught

instruments such as the piano, violin, guitar, accordion, trumpet In 1994, Viktoriya and her beloved husband, Radu, brought the entire family to the United States because of religious persecution from the Communists seeking religious freedom, a better life and provide their children with an education.

Viktoriya herself was a songstress and served God with her talent. For most of her life, she sang in the church choir, leading with her beautiful voice in praise and worship service. Worshiping God in any

circumstance was a lifestyle she kept in her family, which is kept alive today. And because of her love for music, her children were also very involved in church singing and playing

instruments. To her children, the life lessons she passed on were to stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ, fight, and stand for the truth because God is Great.

At the end of her life, she was loved more than she could have imagined.  She gave every ounce of herself to being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She and her husband loved each other more than could ever be expressed in words.  Her loved ones treasured her and are left with an agonizing heartache.  We find comfort in knowing that she has reunited with our father, but we wish we could have kept her forever.  In our grief, we are shaken by the totality of who she was, what she endured, and the ultimate sacrifices she took on so willingly that transcended her suffering into meaning in our lives.  In her honor, we will live our lives armed with her wisdom and informed by her experiences.  To our #1 Best Mom, we love you and it was a profound privilege to have you as our mom.  We will carry on her legacy with pride and gratitude that she was our mom.  

Viktoriya will be remembered for the endless love, laughter, and care that she unselfishly provided for her beloved husband and treasured children. Her generosity and hospitality were beyond measure. Equally as important, Viktoriya was a strong believer, obedient to God, and always ready and willing to serve others. 

To her grandchildren, she was known as mamika and will be remembered as such. Viktoriya, a wife, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, family patriarch, prayer warrior, family faith pillar, woman of God, who raised a big family and showed her children and guided them to be Jesus’s followers; a great example of standing for the truth, a very courageous woman, never ashamed of the gospel of Jesus and shared the truth with boldness, remaining faithful to God.

Viktoriya leaves a legacy of strength in adversity and purity of thought.  She had a gift of humility and the unlimited power of love.  To her family and those who knew her, she was the embodiment of virtue.  To be sure, she was an exceptional woman.  

Viktoriya finished her journey on earth and we know she fell asleep until resurrection day, but she is granted eternal life in heaven where Jesus welcomed her and we will see her and be forever with her, our loved ones and our Savior Jesus Christ.

 (John 11:25)  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. "

Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel 770-945-6924 Share memories of Viktoriya at hamiltonmillchapel.com