Obituary of Edwin E. Bruell

Dudley-Edwin E. Bruell, 95, died on Saturday, December 21st at home. He is survived by three sons and a daughter: Clifford J. Bruell of North Chelmsford, Jeffrey W. Bruell of Stow, Gregory A. Bruell of West Roxbury, and Barbara B. Bruell of Sammamish, Washington State. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Edwin's life was quite extraordinary. He was born in Mikuszowice, Bielsko-Biala, Poland. His parents, Walter and Elfreda (Schreinzer) Bruell, ran a successful woolen mill. Edwin himself became an expert in woolen textiles. He graduated from Bielsko Gymnasium-Technical School 1937, and then went to study textile engineering in England at Bradford Technical College (now Bradford University). He then took an apprenticeship at a Bradford wool dealer and later continued his education at Huddersfield Technical College until June 1939. This productive life of learning was disrupted by the cataclysm that culminated in the Nazi holocaust, during which Edwin, his father, and his two brothers were arrested by the Gestapo and carted off to the Auschwitz concentration camp and later to Buchenwald. They were held as political prisoners, were tattooed with consecutive numbers, and luckily all survived the camps. The camp was liberated on April 11, 1945 by General Patton's U.S. Third Army, and because he spoke Polish, German, and English, Edwin was assigned by the American commander to help the war crimes investigation team as an interpreter. He later got a job at the America Red Cross headquarters in Wiesbaden also as an interpreter. His boss, Clifford Johnson, Jr. of Wellesley, MA made it possible for him to obtain a US immigration visa so he could immigrate to the United States. Edwin arrived in New York, NY June 21, 1947. He got in touch with Leo Honig of Anglo Fabrics in Webster, MA who was a good friend of Edwin's father, and was offered a job as an assistant designer. He worked 51 years at Anglo Fabrics, retiring as Plant Superintendent in April 1998. Edwin also became a travel agent and in 1978 became owner of Tri-Town Travel. Edwin loved to travel and in addition to regular trips back to Poland he traveled widely around the world, e.g., to: Hungary, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Canada, England, Israel, Spain, Australia, Norway, Morocco, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Venezuela, St Lucia, Aruba, Bermuda, Bahamas, Margarita Island, and St. Martin. Edwin enjoyed many hobbies: tennis, skiing, ice hockey, water polo, and photography. Edwin was married to Loretta Frances (Nowosadko) Bruell on December 20th 1950, and together they had four children. Sadly, Loretta died on September 22, 2007 in Webster at age 84. They had been married for 56 years. Edwin's funeral will be held Saturday, December 28 with a Mass at 10 AM in St. Andrew Bobola Church 54 West Main Street, Dudley. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster. Calling hours will be Friday, December 27 from 5 to 8 PM at Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, 33 Schofield Ave. In lieu of flowers donations should be sent to the St. Andrew Bobola PO Box 98 Dudley, MA 01571.