Josephine M. (DeGrazia) Brunelli, 95 of Franklin died July 23 in the Whitcomb House Assisted Living Center in Milford, peacefully, surrounded by her family. Mrs. Brunelli was the wife of the late Frank Brunelli who died in 1987.
Born in Franklin, November 6, 1914, the daughter of the late Gabriel and Maria (Fontana) DeGrazia, she was a lifelong Franklin resident.
Mrs. Brunelli along with her late husband and her husband’s brothers and sisters operated Brunelli’s Market, first on Alpine Place and later on East Central Street in Franklin and also with branches in Blackstone and Milford. In 1961 the Franklin store merged with what was then Star Market (now Shaw’s Market) in Franklin.
Mrs. Brunelli had been a volunteer in the gift shop at Milford Regional Medical Center for 13 years and had also been a volunteer with the Franklin Meals on Wheels program for five years, helping to prepare the meals for the daily distribution to people in Franklin.
The highlight of life was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the time she spent with them.
She is survived by her children, Peter Brunelli and his wife Dolores of Franklin, Philip Brunelli and his wife Connie of Franklin and Pia Jarret and her husband Alan of Wrentham.
She was the mother of the late Paul Brunelli, mother-in-law of Anne Brunelli of Franklin.
She is also survived her sister Eleanor Mele of Franklin and was the sister of the late Albert, Rico and Michael DeGrazia.
Mrs. Brunelli is also survived by her grandchildren, Patti Seaver, Christine Salovardos, Pam Davey, Rebecca MacLeod, Philip Brunelli, Jr., Suzanne Brunelli, Dr. Michael Brunelli, David, Christopher and Mark Brunelli and 12 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 28 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. in Franklin at 9:15 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Care Alternatives Hospice, 181 Cedar Hill Rd., Marlboro, MA 01752 or the Friends of Franklin, 50 Corbin St., Franklin, MA 02038.