Josephine G. Brunelle

Josephine Gloria (Gomez) Brunelle, affectionately known as "Josie," passed away peacefully on July 6, 2025 in South Hadley, Massachusetts. She was 85 years old. Born in Springfield on November 30, 1939, Josie was the beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Madeleine (Poulos) Gomez. A proud graduate of Holyoke High School, Class of 1957, she later settled in South Hadley, where she built a life rooted in family, faith, and hard work. Josie was predeceased by her husband, Lucien A. Brunelle Sr., her cherished son, Lucien A. Brunelle Jr., and her beloved grandson, Evan Brunelle. They were her "boys," whom she loved dearly, and she now joins them in eternal peace and reunion. Together with her husband, Josie owned and operated Brunelle's Marina-a family business she helped build from the ground up. Whether scooping ice cream, cooking hot dogs, or managing the accounts, she wore many hats and worked tirelessly alongside her husband and son until her health no longer allowed. In addition to her dedication to the marina, Josie took great pride in life on the farm, raising cattle, horses, and chickens. She often said it was the very best life she could have imagined. A devoted parishioner of St. Patrick's Church, Josie's Catholic faith was a steady presence in her life. Above all, she was a woman for whom family meant everything. She is survived by her granddaughters, Tiffany and Madeleine Brunelle of South Hadley, and their mother, Kathryn Brunelle of Holyoke-whom Josie always lovingly referred to as her daughter-in-law. Her greatest joy in recent years was being Great-Grandma to Owen & Noah Brunelle, and Beau & Blake Brunelle-Demers, who brought light and laughter to her days. She also leaves her brother, Dr. Greg Gomez, D.D.S. and his wife Mary Lou of Peterborough, NH; her sister, Lucy Gallagher of Amherst, MA, wife of the late John Gallagher; and her sister, Linda Famely and her husband Norman of Bloomfield, CT. Josie is also survived by many loving extended family members, including the Gagne, Scanlon, Leverault, and Bristol families, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. The calling hours will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, from 4-7 pm at O'Brien Family Funeral Home, 33 Lamb Street, South Hadley. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 10 am at St. Patrick's Church in South Hadley. The funeral procession will assemble at the funeral home at 9 am. Burial will follow the Mass at Evergreen Cemetery in South Hadley. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to all the caregivers who provided compassionate care to Josie in her later years. Memorial donations may be made to St. Patrick's Church, 30 Main St., South Hadley, MA 01075. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Josephine G. Brunelle, please click here to visit our sympathy store. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Josephine G. Brunelle, please click here to visit our sympathy store.