THOMAS JOSEPH BRUNELL

BRUNELL, Thomas Joseph Age 82, of Rochester Hills, MI, passed away peacefully, the morning of August 26, 2025. Born on July 23, 1943, he was the son of the late William H. and Helen Hayes Brunell. He grew up in Lee, MA with his brother the late, Robert "Fred" Brunell. He graduated from St. Mary's elementary school in Lee and Lee High School. As a young man, he worked for the family business, Lee Steam Laundry. Tom graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1961 with a BS in Nautical Science. On May 21, 1966, he married Carol A. Wauszkiewicz, his high school sweetheart, at St. Mary's Church in Lee, before later moving to Acton, MA with their two young sons, Chris and Jamie. Building on his experience as a merchant marine, he would become an expert in Supply Chain Management. In 1969, he began an amazing 35-year career at Honeywell, before making the leap to Avnet in 1994. In 2004, Tom struck out on his own and founded the supply chain consulting company, Avicon Partners, which he ran as Managing Director. The move to becoming a VP of Supply Chain Strategy at Avnet meant Tom and Carol moved across the country to Phoenix, Arizona. The desert climate was much to their liking, and they were content to bake in the heat...but grandbabies have a way of grabbing one's heart, so they moved one more time to Rochester Hills, MI to be near their grandchildren, Jack and Tori. Tom took on his favorite role ever, "Grandpa Tom." Tom leaves his two sons: Christopher Brunell and his wife, Aimée of Groton, MA and James Brunell and his wife, Lori of Rochester Hills, MI; two grandchildren, Jack and Tori Brunell of Rochester Hills, MI. He also leaves his sisters-in-law, Barbara Brunell of Lee, Karen LaBier of Elizabeth City, NC and Jeanie Jaquins of Lee; nephews, William Brunell (Becky) of Lee and Brent Brunell (Heather) of Clifton Park, NY; his niece, Jodie Hall of Housatonic, MA; his very close cousin, Mary Ann Fanning of Lee; as well as his cousins, Kathryn Merwin, Ellen Sirois, Patricia Deering and Thomas Finn. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol A. Brunell; his brother, Robert W. Brunell; and his nephew, Richard C. Brunell. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 4, at 10:30 AM, at St. Mary's Church in Lee. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Lee. The family will receive friends Thursday morning from 9 - 10 AM, at the Kelly Funeral Home in LEE. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of choice in Tom's name in c/o the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee, MA 01238. If you would like to leave a message of condolence or share pictures with the family, please visit our website at www.kellyfuneralhome.net

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