Bruno Joseph Piretti

Bruno Joseph Piretti

EAST CANAAN — Bruno Joseph Piretti died at his Brookside Senior Residence home on April 29, 2021. He was 100 years old and was able to embrace life fully up until his passing. 

He was an avid gardener, sports fan (especially the Syracuse Orangemen), and follower of politics and current events and a life-long Democrat.  

Bruno was born in East Canaan on July 26, 1920, to Frederico Piretti and Delfina Minacci, both from the Piedmont region of Italy. As someone who was raised in the Depression Era he took nothing for granted and found meaning and value in everyday life. 

He was the second to the youngest of seven children and the first to graduate from high school. 

He served as a staff sergeant during World War II in the United States Marine Corp and enjoyed attending the local Veterans Day gathering each year at the Elks Club.  

His time served in China opened him to different philosophies. He would often quote Confucius sayings such as “Mind like a parachute, functions best when it is open.”  

He married his wife, Lillian “Lonnie” Col, in 1949 after returning from the war. They raised a family of three girls while living in upstate New York. 

He worked as a sales manager and in industrial sales for the Fuller Brush Company until his retirement. 

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Parkinson’s Support Group of Utica, N.Y.  He believed laughter was the best medicine and put this into practice by employing his wit. He and Lonnie moved to Ukiah, Calif., in 2006 to be closer to family. He loved to dance at family gatherings and sing, including his rousing rendition of Happy Birthday.  

Both he and his wife enjoyed participating in church services and activities at the Unity of Ukiah and developed warm friendships with other members. 

Bruno in his 90s would grow plants and hold a plant sale each year to raise funds for the church. 

In his younger years he played on sports teams and participated in ski and golf competitions. 

He loved to challenge his grandchildren to a game of bocce ball and would manage to win even when using a walker. In his later years he participated in the local Human Race, walking a mile to raise funds for worthy causes as well as making bag lunches for the needy through Kol Ha’Emek. 

He leaves behind his three daughters, Sheila and her husband, Shawn Imanverdi, Delfina Piretti and Karen and her husband, Norman Rosen; his grandchildren, Atash and Armon Imanverdi, Haley Myer and Elena and Ari and his wife, Dawnelise, Rosen; his great-grandchildren, Serafina and Emanuel Rosen; a brother-in-law, Bob Darr of Oneonta, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews and their families. 

He was predeceased by his wife; his brothers, Bert and Peter Piretti; and his sisters, Catherine Cantele, Elizabeth Stineford, Jennie Emprimo and Olga Darr. 

Donations in his honor may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, or the Unity Church of Ukiah.

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