Rosalie Brunetti

>Rosalie (Zavarella) Brunetti, an extraordinary woman, age 77, of Westbrook, formerly of Manchester and East Hartford, widow of Carmelo E. Brunetti, died peacefully on Tuesday, (March 7, 2006) after a long and valiant battle with cancer. She was an eternal optimist, who lived her life completely through the power of positive thinking. She was born in Hartford on January 30, 1929, the youngest child of Liberata (Liberatore) and Agostino Zavarella. Her parents immigrated from Pratola Peligna, Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy, and were instrumental in helping many people from that area come to America and settle in Hartford. Rosalie later traveled to Italy many times to visit family and marveled at the wonders of Italy. She always remarked that the Abruzzese were ""forte e gentile?strong and gentle."" A graduate of East Hartford High School, she was voted the best dancer of her class. She married Carmelo Brunetti in 1947, and they danced through life together for 44 years, until his untimely death in 1991. She is survived by her devoted daughters Barbara Palmer and Glenn Anderson of Westbrook, and Kye and Rich Cohen of Old Saybrook. Rosalie was especially proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She reveled in their accomplishments and made them feel like superstars. She leaves Dr. Adam Cohen and his wife Robyn, and their children Billy and Danny, and Jordan, Alex and Zach Cohen. She also leaves her brother, Savin Zavarella and his wife, Lillian; sisters in law, Alice Zavarella, Mary Zavarella, Stephie Zavarella, Carmela Brunetti, Lucy Merlino and her husband Atilio, Vera Brunetti, Dolores Brunetti and Josephine Brunetti. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, including Scott McMullen, Bob, Don and Ray DePalma and Rhonda Lavado, all of whom treated her like a second mother. She also leaves wonderful Liberatore and Zavarella cousins. She was predeceased by brothers Arthur, Nick and William Zavarella and sisters Mary DePalma and Helen McMullen. She was also predeceased by brothers- in-law Sebastian, Lucian and Salvatore Brunetti. Rosalie traveled extensively to many countries, hosted legendary parties, and was blessed with a large, loving family and countless friends who were especially affected by her outstanding personality. She enjoyed a long career in a family business as the Treasurer of Pressure Blast Manufacturing Co. in Manchester as well as several years as a realtor with ReMax East of the River. She was an active, founding member of the Shoreline Sons and Daughters of Italy. In her retirement, she moved full-time to Westbrook's Pilot's Point, made many new friends, and shared wonderful times with them in the last several years. In particular, she cherished her relationship with Paul and Michael Polo (and family and friends), who included her as an ""adopted"" member of their family. She also leaves dear friends Sharon and Wil Miller, and countless others who were touched by her endless enthusiasm and words of counsel, wit and wisdom. The family would like to thank Drs. Rocco Orlando, Pat DeFusco and Peter Dixon for their exceptional, compassionate and life extending care. Thanks also to the nursing staff at the Hospice Unit of Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, especially Marcie, Sherry, Adrienne, Melinda, Nadine, Adele, Louisa, Bernadette and Joan Bouchard. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Bartholomew Church, East Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT at 11 a.m. on Thursday March 9th. Please go directly to church. Burial will follow in Center Cemetery, Bolton. Calling hours will be held at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd. Wethersfield on Wednesday March 8th from 4-8 p.m. Memorial donations would be welcome to the John A. DeQuattro Cancer Center, 73-A Haynes Street, Manchester, CT 06040 or to the Middlesex Hospital Hospice Unit, 55 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457. For online expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.