Margaret P. McIlroy Russo (March 31, 1948 – April 25, 2025) passed away peacefully at the age of 77 after a long and courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Margaret’s life was one defined by resilience, beauty, generosity, and love. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother, and dear friend to many.

Margaret had an insatiable curiosity for cultures, a natural gift for languages, and a heart that welcomed everyone she met. She moved from Glasgow to Venezuela at 20 years old, starting her family with her husband, Carlos Russo (1942-2023) whom she met while he studied abroad in Scotland. Their 54-year marriage would see them build a life that spanned the west coast of Venezuela (Falcon State); Oklahoma; Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles; Katy, Texas; Carlsbad, California; and, ultimately, Portland, Oregon—her final home. Margaret shared joyful times in her later years visiting her children and grandchildren in Rome, Italy; San Marcos, Texas; Miami, Florida: San Jose, California: Portland, Oregon and Carlsbad, California.

Margaret loved travel, music, design & decor, philosophy, religion, literature, and gardening. She enjoyed one-on-one conversations on any of these topics with anyone who would lend an ear. She loved her tea in her favorite teacups and her solitude in her evenings with books and music. She loved to cook a special meal and replicate menus from restaurants from around the world.

She believed in the power of kindness and gave freely and lovingly to those that needed it in her extended family and community. She was often the first to show up at someone’s doorstep when life took a hard turn, offering her presence, her empathy, and her heart. Margaret volunteered in many corners of her community—from school PTAs to cultural organizations—quietly lifting others through her time and care.

Margaret was a devoted mother to her four children—Helena, Carlos, Jocelyn, and Marianne. She poured her heart into raising them, balancing warmth with strength. After raising her children and supporting their education, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and earned her degree in Literature from St. Thomas University in Houston, TX. She was proud of her Scottish heritage, her Catholic faith, and the family she so lovingly built.

She is survived by her four children and spouses—Helena Russo, Carlos Russo, Jocelyn Russo-Bourgault (Guy Bourgault), and Marianne Russo (and Damon Halback) — along with seven cherished grandchildren: Sebastian, Isabella, Remy, Hunter, Josephine, Leonardo, and Liam. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter-in-law, Michelle Russo, who passed in 2023.

A memorial celebrating her life will be held at 9:30am on Sunday June 1st, 2025, at the Canyon Heights Chapel in San Jose, CA. A livestream link will be available upon request.