Joseph Brunelle Obituary

Joseph A. Brunelle

WOONSOCKET - Joseph A. Brunelle passed away at Saint Antoine Residence on February 11, 2025, one month before his 99th birthday. Born in Woonsocket on March 12, 1926, he was the fourth of nine children born to Emile and Florentine Brunelle. Joseph was a charter member of the Greatest Generation. He grew up during the Great Depression, and left school at the age of 16 to work in several Woonsocket textile mills to help support his family. During the Second World War, he took a job at the Providence Shipyard as a welder, helping to build Liberty Ships. When he turned 18 in March of 1944, he enlisted in the army, joining the 82 Airborne Division Glider Corps. He served in France and Germany until Germany's surrender.

Joseph was a true family man. He returned to Woonsocket where he met and married the love of his life, Therese Savaria, in 1948. Joseph was a loving husband to Therese during their more than 74 years of marriage until she passed away in 2022. After he retired, they drove across the United States and Canada three times, and also took many shorter motor trips. Joseph was an engaged and caring father, and a doting Pepere who was not above spoiling his grandchildren and, later, his great-grandchildren. He leaves behind two children, Denise (Brunelle) Forest of Auburn, NH and Roger Brunelle and his wife, Aimee, of Paxton MA; four grandchildren: Jeremy, Keith, Carolyn and Kimberly, and seven great grandchildren: Carter, Logan, Gavin, Caraden, Kendall, Simone, and Julien. He is also survived by two sisters, Lucille Bissonnette and Helen Giguere.

Joseph worked as a mail carrier at the Woonsocket Post Office retiring in 1986 after 30 years of service. Joseph was a man of many talents. Having no training as a carpenter, electrician or plumber, he built, wired and plumbed a summer cottage using only hand tools, as there was no electrical service at the site. Later, he built a stone fireplace, adding mason to his list of job titles. For many years, Joseph and Therese hosted annual family picnics at their cottage, and their more than 40 nieces and nephews still fondly remember the outings at Uncle Butch's and Aunt Terry's lake house.

In addition to being a builder, he was a craftsman of fine furniture. Among his many creations were a cradle for his grandchildren, a complete bedroom set, and cases for six grandfathers clocks which he gifted to his children and grandchildren. He built many wooden toys for them as well.

Joseph was artistic. He painted murals of rural scenes on his basement walls, and taught himself wood carving. He was an avid reader of newspapers and magazines, and was interested in many diverse subjects. Born the year before Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic, he embraced the computer age, and taught himself to surf the internet. Despite his lack of a formal education, he had a sharp mind and was always ready to engage in a fierce but friendly debate upon almost any subject.

For the last two years of his life, Joseph was a resident at The Villa at Saint Antoine, in North Smithfield. The family thanks the staff there for the excellent care they provided to Joseph.

The family invites relatives and friends of Joseph to join them on Saturday, March 8, 2025 for a celebration of the life of this extraordinary man. Visitation will take place at Fournier and Fournier Funeral Home, 99 Cumberland Street, Woonsocket, from 9 to 9:30 a.m. A funeral mass will be held at Saint Joseph's Church, 1200 Mendon Road, Woonsocket, RI at 10 a.m. Burial at Saint John the Baptist Cemetery will follow immediately after the mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Josephs memory may be made to The Villa at Saint Antoine, 400 Mendon Road, North Smithfield, 02896. Please visit www.fournierandfournier.com for directions and guestbook.