Obituary for Robert Gerald Brunelle
Robert Gerald Brunelle passed away on April 4, 2022.
Born in Winooski, VT. On July 1, 1932 to Henri and Philomene (Beauregard) Brunelle. He spent his youth in Winooski, where he attended Saint Francis School and graduated from Winooski High School in 1955. He graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1959. He did his graduate studies at Oswego State Teachers’ College and Columbia University in New York City and the University of Vermont.
He was a teacher at Winooski High School, Burlington High School and Essex High School. He taught industrial arts and building trades at all three schools. He also worked for the Vermont State Department of Education in rehabilitation for one year. He retired from teaching after 30 years in 1989. Robert had many interests in all fields of knowledge and never stopped studying. After he retired and for the next 20 years of his life, he found great joy restoring antique cars, especially REO automobiles. He received many awards and recognitions for his work, including two national awards and two grand national awards which he received in different parts of the country.
Robert’s military career with the United States Army began at an early age. He served in Korea as a paratrooper and was wounded and received the Purple Heart medal in 1951.
Robert is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carmen, whom he met and married while attending Oswego State Teachers College. He is also survived by six children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His daughter Maureen Vachereau of Winooski and her children Christopher Grassley and his partner Gail Burkholder of New Haven and his son Ramsay. Whitney and husband Matthew Paul and her children, Quintin, Kenzie and Charlee of Vergennes. His son Kermit and wife Barbara Brunelle of Bedford, NH. and their children, Leigh Brunelle and husband Leo Roy and Seth Brunelle of Manchester, NH. His son Eric Brunelle of Colchester. His daughter Gizelle and husband Tom Bushey of Fairfax and her daughter Theophainia Brassard and her fiancé David Latham of San Francisco, CA. His son Daniel
Brunelle of Berlin and his daughter Jamieson. His daughter Daphne Merrill of Ocoee, FL. and her children Ryan Brunelle, Danielle Soren-Brunelle and her fiancé Jason Rodriquez of Jacksonville, FL. and Brandon Merrill of Ocoee, FL.
Robert was predeceased by his grandson Ryan Brunelle in 2019, his mother in 1952 and his father in 1981, brothers’ Leonard and Henry and sisters’, Theresa Marcelino, Yolande Lilley, Annette Mazza, Arlene Francis, Marion Fitzgerald and Claire Brunelle. Robert is survived by sister Jane and brothers Donald, David and Raymond Brunelle.
A funeral service is scheduled for May 20, 2022. The Wake will take place from 10:00-2:00 PM. Then, a Graveside Service will take place at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery at 2:00 PM. Arrangements are being made by Lavigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT.
Born in Winooski, VT. On July 1, 1932 to Henri and Philomene (Beauregard) Brunelle. He spent his youth in Winooski, where he attended Saint Francis School and graduated from Winooski High School in 1955. He graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1959. He did his graduate studies at Oswego State Teachers’ College and Columbia University in New York City and the University of Vermont.
He was a teacher at Winooski High School, Burlington High School and Essex High School. He taught industrial arts and building trades at all three schools. He also worked for the Vermont State Department of Education in rehabilitation for one year. He retired from teaching after 30 years in 1989. Robert had many interests in all fields of knowledge and never stopped studying. After he retired and for the next 20 years of his life, he found great joy restoring antique cars, especially REO automobiles. He received many awards and recognitions for his work, including two national awards and two grand national awards which he received in different parts of the country.
Robert’s military career with the United States Army began at an early age. He served in Korea as a paratrooper and was wounded and received the Purple Heart medal in 1951.
Robert is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carmen, whom he met and married while attending Oswego State Teachers College. He is also survived by six children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His daughter Maureen Vachereau of Winooski and her children Christopher Grassley and his partner Gail Burkholder of New Haven and his son Ramsay. Whitney and husband Matthew Paul and her children, Quintin, Kenzie and Charlee of Vergennes. His son Kermit and wife Barbara Brunelle of Bedford, NH. and their children, Leigh Brunelle and husband Leo Roy and Seth Brunelle of Manchester, NH. His son Eric Brunelle of Colchester. His daughter Gizelle and husband Tom Bushey of Fairfax and her daughter Theophainia Brassard and her fiancé David Latham of San Francisco, CA. His son Daniel
Brunelle of Berlin and his daughter Jamieson. His daughter Daphne Merrill of Ocoee, FL. and her children Ryan Brunelle, Danielle Soren-Brunelle and her fiancé Jason Rodriquez of Jacksonville, FL. and Brandon Merrill of Ocoee, FL.
Robert was predeceased by his grandson Ryan Brunelle in 2019, his mother in 1952 and his father in 1981, brothers’ Leonard and Henry and sisters’, Theresa Marcelino, Yolande Lilley, Annette Mazza, Arlene Francis, Marion Fitzgerald and Claire Brunelle. Robert is survived by sister Jane and brothers Donald, David and Raymond Brunelle.
A funeral service is scheduled for May 20, 2022. The Wake will take place from 10:00-2:00 PM. Then, a Graveside Service will take place at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery at 2:00 PM. Arrangements are being made by Lavigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski, VT.