Obituary of Joan Brunelli

Joan Marie McCarthy Brunelli Joan Marie McCarthy Brunelli, 76 of Greensboro died Friday, October 23rd at Beacon Place Hospice in Greensboro after a ten month battle with lung cancer. Joan was born May 12, 1933 in Boston Laying In Hospital, the oldest child of John Horace McCarthy and Mary Ellen O'Brien McCarthy. Both Joan and her mother perpetuated a family legend that she was a perfect child. Her brothers and the nuns in the Boston parochial school system knew a different story. She graduated a semester early from Saint Gregory's in 1951, attended secretarial school and worked for an accounting firm in Boston prior to her marriage. On October 7, 1961, Joan married William Roger Brunelli Sr. and went on to have four children in five years. Joan and Roger lived in Franklin, MA and Spartanburg, SC before moving to Greensboro in 1985. Joan worked as a bookkeeper for many different businesses throughout her life. Up until last year, she helped the Marine Corps League of Greensboro. Joan was opinionated and feisty, had a great sense of humor and a love of life. She was also kind and compassionate, loving and caring. She loved her family, especially her husband, our country, cooking, Christmas, travel, books, romantic comedies and a martini. Joan was Italian by marriage, but you would not know that from her homemade pasta, raviolis and sauces. She was also known for her corned beef and cabbage and her delicious apple pie. Her entire life was an inspiration to her family, especially in the way she faced the last days of her life. A Mass of Christian burial will be October 28, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Greensboro, NC. Interment will immediately follow at Guilford Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lambeth Troxler Funeral home at 300 West Wendover Avenue, Greensboro where Rosary service will be held at 6:30 pm Tuesday. Joan is survived by her husband of 48 years, William Roger Brunelli Sr., daughter, Jeanine Marie Glaros and her husband, Darrell of Greensboro, NC; daughter Jennifer Ann Kaple and her husband, Grant of Columbia, SC; son, William Roger Brunelli Jr and his wife, Alessandra of Bluffton, SC; and son, John Harding Brunelli and his wife, Leslie of Columbia, SC. She also leaves behind grandchildren, Alicia Marie Brunelli, Devin Michael Brunelli, Peter James Kaple. Megan Anne Kaple, Nicoletta Marie Brunelli , William Roger Brunelli, III, Harding Eliot 'Eli' Brunelli and Lucy Claire Brunelli. She is also survived by brother John 'Jack' Harvard McCarthy and his wife, Nancy of Franklin, Massachusetts and brother Brian McCarthy and wife, Cindy of Norwood, Massachusetts and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Her family is eternally grateful to the entire staff of Beacon Place Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations and memorials can be made to Beacon Place Hospice, 2502 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27405.