Philippe J. "Phil" TURMEL

1926 - 2021

Philippe "Phil" J. Turmel, 95, passed away peacefully on Friday, (June 4, 2021) at Middlesex Hospital. He was the son of the late Arthur Turmel and Maria (Ferland) Turmel who immigrated to the United States from Canada. Phil was born in Saint Sylvestre, Quebec, Canada on May 4, 1926. His family first settled in New Britain and later in Hartford where he was educated in the public school system. He joined the 8518th U.S. Army Air Force Unit in 1944 and served as a ball turret gunner on the B17 Flying Fortress. He remained a life-long, proud World War II veteran with a special interest in and concern for all veterans. Phil also had a special interest in aircraft and when his two-year service ended, he was employed by United Aircraft at the Hamilton Standard Division. Among his many duties, he performed the meticulous Quality Control inspections of propeller blades. He was recognized for developing innovative inspection procedures and techniques, which were adopted by the company as standard operating procedures. He genuinely enjoyed his 46 years of service to the industry. Phil married Nancy Macca on Thanksgiving Day in 1949 and they spent most of their 63 years of married life living in Wethersfield. They were long-time communicants of the Church of the Incarnation. He was her loving caretaker for a few years before her passing in 2012. Phil resided in Old Saybrook for the past four years so he could be near his daughter. Phil was gentle, kind, patient and positive, always promoting his favorite phrase to "go with the flow". His fun-loving spirit was life-long, which made him especially loved by children throughout his life. While he enjoyed his life's work, he especially enjoyed his time spent with his family. In his last years, he treasured the time he spent with each of his great-grandchildren, and they all adored him. He will be deeply missed by all. Phil is survived by his two daughters, Maryann (Mike) McKenney of Dalton, MA and Phyllis (Kevin) Wakeham of Old Saybrook, CT. He also leaves his beloved grandchildren Ryan (Amanda) and Sean McKenney, Brendan (Lyndsey), Matt (Donna) Wakeham, Kelly (Davin) Rozowsky and seven great-grandchildren, Keeley, Maya, Luke, Kyle, Scarlett, Nolan and Addie. He also leaves his sister-in-law Dorothy Turmel of East Hartford and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his grandson Patrick Wakeham and brothers Emile, Gerard (Julia) and Fernand. Funeral services will leave at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, June 11, 2021 from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Mt. Saint Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Semper Fi & America's Fund, 825 College Boulevard, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 or to Middlesex Health Hospice Program, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.