Phil Acunzo

Philomine ("Phil") Acunzo of Branford died on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. She was the wife of the late Joseph Acunzo. Phil was born on January 7, 1929 in New Britain, daughter of the late Frank and Paolina Bordonaro.
Born into an extended Italian family that held education in high regard, Phil graduated in 1946 from New Britain High School as the salutatorian. She graduated at the top of her class from University of Connecticut in 1950 where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, the Spanish Club, and the Newman Club and was a Junior Counselor. She then went on to get a 5th Year Certificate in Elementary Education from Teacher College of Connecticut.
While in college, she met the love of her life Joe Acunzo and, soon thereafter, began their forty-year marriage in 1952. The following year, the couple relocated to Branford where they raised their four children.
After Phil's first teaching assignment in New Britain, she started in the Branford Public School System at the Harbor Street School where she taught third and fourth grades from 1955 to 1957 before taking time off to raise her family. Returning to teaching in 1968, Phil taught at St. Mary School where she would remain as a beloved fourth grade teacher for twenty-five years.
She volunteered for the Branford Chamber of Commerce Read Aloud Program. As a member of the National Education Association, Phil was honored with the Office of Catholic Schools Retirement Award and the State of Connecticut General Assembly Retirement Citation. In 2000, Phil was inducted into Branford's Education Hall of Fame.
After a 30-year teaching career she retired, however, she continued working with children as a tutor. During her retirement, Phil was founder and director of Rainbows, a program to help children undergoing stresses related to divorce or bereavement.
As a devout Catholic, she attended daily mass, sang in the St. Mary Parish choir, and was founder and director of the children's choir. During retirement, she taught religious education for over 25 years to children and adults. She served on the Liturgy Committee, Altar Society, and Parish Council and in various offices of the Ladies Guild.
In her retirement, in addition to her love of reading, music, word games, and puzzles, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She knit and crocheted hundreds of baby blankets that she donated to children in foster care, hospitals and shelters.
Throughout her life, she enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, especially large family gatherings for Sunday dinners. An avid reader devouring multiple books per week, she was a member of the Friends of the Library of James Blackstone Memorial Library.
Phil was predeceased by her husband Joseph, parents Frank and Paolina, and brother Thomas (Dorothy) Bordonaro. She is survived by her children Adele (Hank) Strashnick, Joseph (Leah) Acunzo, Francis (Colleen) Acunzo, all of Branford, and Mary Acunzo of Sandwich, MA; eight grandchildren Jason (Xandra) Acunzo, Jenn Strashnick, Christina (Alexander) Todd, Rachel Strashnick, Alex (Camellia) Acunzo, Samuel (Samantha) Schlesinger, Zach (Kristina) Acunzo and Andrea Acunzo; and four great-grandchildren Aria, Mason, Avery and Noah.
Calling hours are Monday, November 4 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. Her funeral procession will leave the funeral home on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church at 10:30. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. John Bosco Parish, 731 Main St, Branford, CT 06405.