Suzanne "Suzi" F. Brunelle

Suzanne Brunelle (nee: Flamand), 83, passed away on December 10, 2024 following a long illness.  Suzi is survived by her husband Bill of 62 years; by their sons William T. Brunelle, Jr, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Dr. John P. Brunelle of Davidson, North Carolina, and Michael D. Brunelle of McLean, Virginia; by eight grandchildren, by four great-grandchildren; by her sister Jocelyn Giunta of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Suzi was preceded in death by twin grandsons.

Suzi accompanied her husband to many places as he pursued a U. S. Navy career. They lived in Groton, Connecticut, Norfolk, Virginia, San Diego, California, Key West, Florida, Sydney, Australia and finally Washington, DC. Suzi and Bill moved from Australia to Northern Virginia in 1976 for a tour of duty in the Pentagon. Bill retired from the Navy in 1985. Meanwhile, Suzi became a Certified Medical Assistant and went to work for over 25 years as a pediatric medical assistant in the same practice. She thrived in the job – caring for children was the perfect job for her.

They bought a lovely home in Annandale, Virginia when they came to the area and lived there for 44 years. In 2020, they moved into an Independent Living apartment in the Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean, Virginia.

Suzi’s proudest accomplishment in life was raising their three sons with her Navy husband often deployed. Known as “Kiki” to her grandchildren, she captivated them with her beautiful smile and loving nature. 

Suzi was a fitness buff. Introduced to running by her husband, she soon became bored with running and switched to aerobics, weight training, bicycling, and spinning. She also played women’s soccer into her 50s. Then genetics took over and her lifestyle changed dramatically.

Suzi and Bill travelled extensively after they both retired – cruises and land tours in Europe and in the USA, plus a memorable two-week tour of Egypt. Their last trip before her health issues precluded travel was a luxury passage from New York to Southampton in Queen Mary 2.

A celebration of her life will be held for Suzi in the Chapel at Vinson Hall Retirement Community on January 25, 2025, and her ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined. She will be sorely missed, but may this wonderful woman finally rest in peace with her Lord. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Fisher House Foundation or to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation.