Albert R. “Pete” Brunelli, 84, of Franklin died July 3 in Milford Regional Hospital following an illness.
He was the husband of Mary A. (D’Afile) Brunelli for the past 60 years.
Born on Summer Street in Franklin, February 27, 1927, the son of the late Luigi and Esther (Geromini) Brunelli, Mr. Brunelli was a lifelong Franklin resident.
He attended Dean Academy from 1944-1945 and the Hill School of Business in Woonsocket.
Mr. Brunelli was elected Franklin Town Treasurer and Collector in 1981 and served in that post until his retirement in 1992.
Mr. Brunelli had a long and active commitment to the Town of Franklin.
He was appointed a Franklin Police officer in February, 1950. He served as a regular part-time officer until 1970 and also served for a short period as a full-time officer.
He served on the Franklin Finance Committee (known then as the Advisory Board) from 1962-1970.
In 1972 he was elected to the Franklin Board of Selectman. He served as the Chairman of the Board three times.
He served on the Franklin Town Council from 1978-1981 with one year as Chairman.
In 1990 he was appointed to represent Franklin on the Charles River Pollution Control District Board and served in that capacity until 2009.
He also represented Franklin on the Norfolk County Retirement Board.
Mr. Brunelli was a member of the Board of Directors of the former Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank for many years and served as Chairman of the Board for several terms.
He served in the Navy during World War II attaining the rank of Seaman First Class.
Pete loved to play golf. He enjoyed watching any football game he could go to or see on TV.
He always enjoyed watching his children play sports in their youth, and when his grandchildren came, he attended their practices and games with the same enthusiasm.
A family trip to Walt Disney World was a favorite vacation spot.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Carol Keras and her husband Robert of Franklin, Joanne Scipione and her husband Roy of Franklin, Peter Brunelli and his wife Barbara of Franklin and Jimmy Brunelli and his wife Donna of Franklin.
He is also survived by his sister Virginia Vars of Franklin. He was the brother of the late William, John, Fred, Ernest, Louis Brunelli, Annie Cardosi, Vera DelSignore and Louise Peterson.
Pete is also survived by his grandchildren, Matt Keras and his wife Jenn, Kristen Laliberte and her husband Ken, Mark Keras, Joe Scipione and his wife Mandy, Anthony Scipione and his girlfriend Johnna Infanti, Dan, David, Kevin, Bryan and Laura Brunelli and his great-grandchildren, Jacob Keras, Caleb Keras, Thomas Scipione, Isabella Scipione and baby Laliberte to be born in December.
His funeral will be held on Thursday, July 7 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. in Franklin at 9:15 followed by a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00 a.m.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Activities Fund of Medway Country Manor, 115 Holliston St., Medway, MA 02053 or the Albert R. “Pete” Brunelli FHS Scholarship Fund c/o Charles River Bank, 70 Main St., Medway, MA 02053.