William E. Brunelle

William E. "Bubba" Brunelle 1940-2013 CHICOPEE - Bill Brunelle, 73, of Chicopee lost his battle with brain tumors at home on November 12, 2013 with his beloved family holding his hands.  He was born in Montpelier, VT to his late parents, Noella A. (Gaudette) and Albert J. Brunelle.  He leaves behind his best friend and soul mate, Martha, with whom he recently celebrated  50 years of marriage; his three precious children (who supported him through these last four and a half difficult years) William M. Brunelle of Chicopee, Dr. Natalie Dunning and her husband Christopher of Chepachet, RI, and Michael J. Brunelle and his wife Maria of Westfield; and his grandchildren, who called him "Bumpa" and were the extra loves of his life bringing wonderful smiles to his face right up to the end - Kelsey and Patrick Brunelle, Katherine Dunning, and Noella Brunelle.  Bill was educated at St. Joan of Arc School in Chicopee and graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield in 1958.  He was a long time member of St. Patrick's Church in Chicopee until its closing, and then became a devoted member of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield.  After high school, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  He served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt air craft carrier where he developed a great love of travel and for the sea which he treasured throughout his life, leading him to always own some type of vessel.  He chose to be a truck driver initially for Friendly's Ice Cream and ended his career driving doubles for Consolidated Freightways, where he received numerous rewards for safe driving.  Bill lived life to the fullest and loved his family and friends deeply.  He was a great gourmet cook, loved traveling, cruising, baking, skeet shooting and refereeing skeet meets, was a fabulous dancer, an excellent skier, but most loved being the captain of his boat, the "Natalie Ann", and a great captain he was.  He will be greatly missed not only by his family, but by his long standing "Friday Night Friends" and the "Boat People." His family will be ever grateful to Dr. Kalia and Dr. John Sullivan for their guidance through this difficult journey. The Brain Tumor Clinic, headed by Dr. Taylor, and the Mercy Hospice team, especially Vivian and Ashley, helped make it possible to keep Bill in his home until his journey ended. Funeral services for Bill will be held on Monday, November 18th beginning at 10:30am at Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway St, Chicopee, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:30am in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St, Springfield.  Rites of Committal will be held in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 1390 Main St., Agawam at 1pm.  Calling hours will be at the funeral home on Sunday, November 17th from 3-7pm. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Tufts Hospital Brain Tumor Clinic, 860 Washington St. Boston, MA 02111 or to Mercy Hospice, 2112 Riverdale St. Suite 3 West Springfield, MA  01089. For additional information please visit tylunasfuneralhome.com   Tylunas Funeral Home (413) 592-0148