Obituary of Fr. Thomas LaRussa, S.D.V.

Fr. Thomas LaRussa, S.D.V., of Newport, Vermont (formerly of Florham Park, New Jersey), was called home to the Lord on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at the rectory of Mater Dei Parish in Newport, Vermont. He was 61.

Fr. Thomas was born in Fremont, California, on August 20, 1963, to the late Mr. Angelo Mark LaRussa and Mrs. Georgina (Williams) LaRussa. He dedicated his life to the service of God and the Church, exemplifying a profound commitment to his faith and community.

Fr. Thomas made his First Religious Profession of Vows in the Society of Divine Vocations (Vocationists) in 2011 and made his Perpetual Vows in 2014. He earned a Master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange, NJ, in 2017. He was ordained as a deacon at St. Nicholas Parish in Palisades Park, NJ, in 2017 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 2019.

Fr. Thomas served as Associate Pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Palisades Park from 2019 to 2020 and then as Parochial Vicar at Mater Dei Parish in Newport, Vermont, from 2020 until his passing.

Fr. Thomas is survived by his sister Angela (LaRussa) Javete, his brother JP LaRussa, and the Vocationist family, all of whom mourn his loss and celebrate his life of service.

May he Rest in Peace.

All are warmly invited to attend the visitation for Fr. Thomas to be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Vocationist Fathers Chapel, 90 Brooklake Road, Florham Park, NJ 07932.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM the Vocationist Fathers Chapel after the visitation on Thursday. 

Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Mausoleum, East Hanover, NJ.