Posted on 03/02/2011 12:34:05 PM PST by Deb
The morning after the Oscars the World lost an extraordinary person. Everyone whoever met Jane Russell had a story to tell and it was usually outrageous because she was the most honest, straight-forward woman I ever knew and if you weren't prepared, she could knock you down with her honesty.
She was my Godmother and my mom was her best friend from the day they met at RKO in 1945 until the day my mother died. She called herself my "Old, Aunt Jane", but she wasn't really my aunt, although I consider the Russells my family.
The best way to describe her would be by sharing the story of Jane at the Liza Minnelli wedding in 2002.
For some reason known only to Liza's fiance, David Gest, he invited an amazing collection of past movie queens to their wedding in New York. Along with friends Liz Taylor and Michael Jackson were names from movie history like Anne Jefferies, Jill St John, Gina Lollobrigida...and Jane Russell. Jane had no idea why she was invited, but it was all paid for so she went.
During the course of the festivities someone suggested Michael Jackson take a picture with Jane. I've never seen the picture, but I imagine Michael has somewhat of an odd look on his face because while they're standing there, Jane snaps, "Get your hair out of your face." Let me say here that, usually, Jane's comments were delivered in somewhat of a snarl and a startled Michael gasped, "Oh...what?" To which Jane replied, "Get your hair out of your face, no one can see your eyes." Shocked, but obedient, he complied.
Aunt Jane told me this story having no idea, I think, who Michael Jackson was or what he did and believe me she had a few choice comments on his appearance that nearly brought me to tears with laughter. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered if she had known (which she may have) who he was. She just said what she thought.
But a better example of the woman happened as my mother was dying of cancer. Jane had wanted mom in a Santa Barbara facility that was close to her so she could see her everyday, but mother had exhausted her insurance and finances and I was going to have to figure out what to do next. When I talked to her about it, mom said, "It's not a problem, honey."
Great. I was going to have to tell her that she couldn't stay there any longer, when her nurse called. The nurse had been sworn to secrecy, but said Jane had arranged to do all the advertising and promotion (including personal appearances) for the little hospital in exchange for mom's private room as long as she needed it. Mom died there a year later, her family and greatest friend at her side. A friend who never mentioned a word about the great gift she had given.
There are a million stories and I'm sure you'll read a lot of them, but there was no one like her.
Rest in peace and love "Old Aunt Jane".
Thanks for posting this up.
What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it.
Wow! That’s a wonderful story about her. Thanks for sharing it.
Ms Russell was part of my family, too. She was and is my sister in Christ. We will see here again, There.
She was a beautiful woman and grew more so as she aged.
Ms Russell was from a more plain-spoken time, a resource badly needed but in seriously short supply these days.
She was a beautiful woman and grew more so as she aged.
When they questioned my mother about how someone calling herself a Christian could be engaging in such un-Christian behavior, mother just said, "Imagine what she'd be like without the Lord."
Jane, may you RIP.
What a great story. It comports with everything I’ve read about Jane Russel. What a grand lady. Dear God, can we have just one more like her in the world?
What a sweet thing to say.
Indeed! Won’t it be great to meet Jane Russell in heaven?
I always thought she was so much prettier than Marilyn Monroe. She just had a natural beauty, which Marilyn lacked.
Sounds like she was just as beautiful on the inside, too.
Insides are the most important, as I’m sure she would agree.
LOL. A rare breed those women. Too few and far between. Honest and classey.
May I include she had more talent in her little pinkie than most of today's actresses have in their whole bodies. In fact few of today's actresses would have even made it past a 1947 casting call at Paramount or RKO.
Amazing, I loved your godmother’s appearances on tv shows and documentaries. Especially when she would talk with Robert Mitchum. Both of the them down to earth.
Katharine Hepburn once yelled at Michael Jackson to take his sunglasses off his face when he was in her living room. I imagine Aunt Jane was a very similar type,lol!
All film buffs are mourning the passing of a great, Hollywood doll!
Most people don’t know what a great voice she had. She was in Florida at a singing engagement when she got sick a few weeks ago. She wasn’t supposed to fly because she had macular degeneration, but she snuck down there to sing. She was sumpin.
PICTURES?????
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