Florence Brunel

Brunel, Florence Marie MONONA On Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, surrounded by the love and support of her family, Florence Marie Brunel peacefully passed away at the age of 46. Although Florence was young, she lived a colorful life. Born in Paris, France, she was raised mostly in south eastern France in the Pre-Alps. Florence loved to travel and this love began at an early age when her family relocated to Zaire in Africa. At age 17, she left her small French village in the Rhone Valley to visit a sister who lived in Madison and decided to call Madison home. Florence continued to travel and it was during her trips to Mexico and Spain that she developed a love for languages and literature. She attended UW-Madison, where she received both her bachelors and masters degrees in Spanish and French language and literature. Florence became a Spanish teacher where she taught for the Oregon school district, then most recently for the Madison school district. She loved Madison and it was here that she decided to start a family with her husband, Joe Hamel and daughter, Maia. Besides her husband and daughter, Florence is survived by her parents, Claudia and Robert; sisters, Genavive, Christine and Marianick; nieces, Ilana and Pauline; nephews, Hugo and Alaxis; stepsons, Justin and Jared; and brother-in-law, Glen. A celebration of Florences life will be held at ST. STEPHENS LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5700 Pheasant Hill Road, Monona, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, at 6 p.m. Florence will be deeply missed and remembered in all the ways she loved and affected her friends and family.