Merrill Bruno

Merrill C. “Mel” Bruno, 82, of Wethersfield, beloved husband for 61 years of Susan (Ventura) Bruno, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2015 with his loving family by his side. Born in Norwalk on June 20, 1933, he was the son of the late Charles and Helen (Listro) Bruno. Mel was a proud U.S. Marine, serving with the First Marines Division on Bunker Hill in Korea in 1952. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart. Mel was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He held several positions in his lifetime, working for the U.S. Postal Service, Robert Drywall Company, and S. G. Millazzo. He also worked for 25+ years at the Wethersfield Country Club as a bartender, locker-room manager, and then club manager until his retirement. Mel leaves behind his devoted wife and best friend, Susan; his four children and their families, Merrill C. Bruno, Jr., Steven and his wife Debra Bruno all of Wethersfield, Emily Bruno and Domenic Papa (with whom he made his home) and Jackelyn “Jackie” and her husband Carl Tavarozzi of Cromwell; 10 adored grandchildren, Leah and Chris Pina, Darren, Frank and Jeana Bruno, Brianna and Bianca Bruno, Marissa and Juliana Tavarozzi, and Haley and Ally Lombardo and three cherished great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Harper and Dalton Pina. He is also survived by his stepbrother, Bob Smalley and his wife Gail of Mystic; stepsister, Caroline Thompson of FL; two nephews, Mark and his wife Sue Burbank of Southington and Scott Burbank of Wethersfield and his niece, Marlene and her husband Rob Doyon also of Wethersfield and their families. He also leaves behind his uncle, Sebastian (Don) Listro and his family. He was predeceased in life by his parents, Helen and Charles Bruno and Wilfred and Emily Thompson; in-laws, Emilia and Gioacchino Ventura; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Antoinette and Robert Burbank and his niece, Erin Burbank. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Hebrew Healthcare Nursing Home in West Hartford for their excellent care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 12 noon at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. Please go directly to the church. Burial with military honors will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Calling hours will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Donations in Mel’s honor may be made to: Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, 7008 Little River Turnpike, P.O. Box 49, Annandale, VA, 22003 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS, 66675. To share a memory of Mel with his family, please visit www.desopo.com.