Obituary of Leo J. Brunelle

Leo J. Brunelle, 71, of Guy Park Avenue, passed away suddenly Tuesday evening at St. Mary?s Hospital. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on December 8, 1934, the last surviving son of Joseph and Marie Poineau Brunelle, he graduated from St. Anthony?s High School there. In 1977, he earned a degree in business from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, and moved to this area where he has since lived. Leo was employed as production supervisor for Collette Mfg. for over ten years, and later as a supervisor for Campbell Plastics in Schenectady before he retired in 1997. He was an avid gardener, and served as a Master Gardener for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties. Leo was a communicant of St. Mary?s Roman Catholic Church. During the Vietnam era, he served with the United States Army. On May 12, 1962, he was united in marriage to the former Gertrude ?Trudy? Benjamin. In addition to his wife, his loving family includes his children, Marc L. Brunelle of Kansas City, Kansas; Aimee M. Brunelle of Jamestown, New York and Beth Brunelle of Ithaca, New York; nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, two brothers, Raymond and Normand Brunelle predeceased him. Services are Saturday at 10:15 am at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Mary?s Church. Interment is in St. Mary?s Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday from 5-8 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, in care of the funeral home, to be earmarked for the Master Gardener?s Program in Leo?s memory.