Godspeed Jane Russell. Rest in peace.
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 such a great tribute. I miss our great, classy, true movie stars of the past - beauty, grace and character was what they exuded. Not to mention a sense of humor about life and themselves.
RIP, Jane. Until we meet again....
Ah, yes. I’m hunting for my favorites. Hang on.
What a great story. Thanks for posting. They don’t make ‘em like her any more.
The day is coming. Keep listening for the Trumpet.
Godspeed Jane Russell. Rest in peace.
Wow. One of my favorite posts of all time. What a story, what a gal. Thank you very much.
God bless, Deb.
Also, Deb, in this celebrity stricken culture of ours thank you for reminding us that celebrities are just people with the same frailties, problems, Moms who read their press clippings and nieces and God-daughters who look up to them that we all have.
May She rest in peace.
TS
A classy lady.
Thank you.
Great story.
WIKI At the height of her career, Russell started the "Hollywood
Christian Group," a weekly Bible study at her home which was arranged for Christians in the film industry.
Russell appeared occasionally on the Praise The Lord program on the
Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian TV channel based in Costa Mesa, Cali.
Russell was at times a prominent Republican Party member who attended
Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration with other notables from Hollywood Lou
Costello, Dick Powell, June Allyson, Anita Louise and Louella Parsons.
OBIT EXCERPT Always she was able to rebound from troubles by relying on lessons she learned from her Bible-preaching mother, a lay minister. "Without faith, I never would have made it," she commented a few months after her third husband's death. "I don't know how people can survive all the disasters in their lives if they don't have any faith, if they don't know the Lord loves them and cares about them and has another plan."
Survivors include her children, Thomas K. Waterfield, Tracy Foundas and Robert "Buck" Waterfield, six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. A public funeral is scheduled March 12 at 11 a.m. at Pacific Christian Church in Santa Maria.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in her name to either the Care Net Pregnancy and Resource Center of Santa Maria or the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County.
You’re a doll and I’m a dandy,
Let’s chip in for cotton candy.....
It saddened me that another of our American icons is gone.
She was beautiful inside and out.
May she rest in peace.
Jane Russell and a beautiful FReeper.
Thanks, Liz. That’s a nice obit. All of her children were adopted from under-privileged homes in London thru the agency (WAIF) she started, the Women’s Adoptive International Fund.
Gorgeous. Thanks for adorning the thread, while I fumble around with my scanner.
‘Legendary, bigger than life, magnificent, colorful people that filled our lives with magic and wonder.’
How true.
Jane Russel and her comtemporaries from the Golden Age have never been equaled.
When I think of the ‘idols’ of today such as Brad and Angelina, Paris and Lindsay Lohan- I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
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