Victoria (Russell) Unni, age 60, of Winchester, MA, passed on to heaven on November 3, 2022. She was the beloved wife for over 30 years of Mohanan Unni, and a beloved mother to Caleb Jules Unni.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Victoria was the daughter of the late Jules and Virginia (Adams) Russell. She was raised in Westbury, New York, and educated in Roslyn, New York. She attended Boston University where she received her B.A. in Psychology. She met her life partner, Mohanan, at Boston University. Her passion was her family. Having lost her parents at a young age, she did everything possible under heaven to make her family’s life safe, secure and successful. Her Hindu family in Malaysia, especially her mother-in-law, Hema Nalini, brothers in-law and their spouses, Nanadan and Anuja Unni, Suresh and Mridula Unni, loved her and held her in very high esteem. She transcended religion, caste and culture because she recognized the inherent divinity and dignity of all people. Victoria dedicated her life to her family and her pastoral ministry at the Shepherd’s House in Woburn, MA.
In her pastoral ministry, Victoria always recognized that people were a gift from God. She accepted people as they were and helped them move slowly toward a deeper appreciation of love, truth and justice. She did not relish in our differences but shepherded the flock so that they became more divine in their humanity. She was always cognizant that truth dawned upon our hearts slowly and that our knowledge of God and one another is still imperfect. So, she was patient with everyone extending faith, hope and love on a consistent basis.
Even though she was fighting cancer for the last four years, she still found time and energy to encourage, edify and comfort people from all walks of life. She loved music and believed that music served as a bridge between heaven and earth. So, she served as the lead-minister of music at the Shepherd’s House. Her life motto was “love God, love people, and love life.” She faced life and death with hope, anchored in the Word of her Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus in John 2:19: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” She believed that there was nothing in this universe that the resurrection power of Christ could not cure!
In addition to her husband, Mohanan, and her son, Caleb, she also leaves behind her first cousins Jan Greene, Peter Basmajian, Melissa Russell Rubel, Stewart Russell and Jonathan Russell. She is further survived by her nieces and nephews, Sanjay Unni, Vijay Unni, Urmila Unni and Nandini Unni.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Visiting Hours in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington Street, Winchester, MA, on Friday, November 11 from 4-7PM.
A Funeral Service will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington Street, Winchester, MA, on Saturday, November 12, at 10AM. All are welcome to attend. A Burial Service will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester, MA.
A “Celebration of Life” for Victoria Unni will be announced in the coming days by The Shepherd’s House Church in Woburn, MA, where Victoria served faithfully as a Pastor for 15+ years
In lieu of flowers and cards, the family is requesting that donations on behalf of Mrs. Victoria Unni be made to the Council of Social Concern, 2 Merrimac Street, Woburn, MA 01801. https://www.socialconcern.org.