Horrible News

My baby brother, Paul Emanuelli, died suddenly on Nov. 8, 2010. He was 52 years old, and at home with his two kids. He wasn't sick; there was no warning. The kids said he coughed twice and passed out.

This blog is my tribute to him. I called it Paul-i-Wog because that's what we called him when he was little.

I was traveling in China when I heard the news. I was literally on a slow boat in China - chugging up the Yangtze River, hundreds of miles from anywhere. But by chance I checked my email, and there was a minutes-old message from my best friend Pam, with the subject line "Urgent."

I clicked it open, afraid it might have bad news about my 86-year-old mother. But Pam's simple message said: "Annie: Call your mom or me right away. Something happened to your brother."

I knew in my heart he was gone. I hit reply: "Is he dead?"

Seconds later, Pam responded. "Yes, honey, I'm so sorry." The words swam on the page and I couldn't move.

The Obituary

LEYDEN-Paul J. Emanuelli, 52, of Leyden, died unexpectedly on Monday (11-8-10) at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.

He was born in Montague on July 30, 1958, the son of Dino and Shirley (Johnson) Emanuelli. He graduated from Greenfield High School in 1977 and then received his associate's degree in liberal arts from Greenfield Community College. He had been a resident of Greenfield prior to moving to Leyden in 1990.

Paul was a rural letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for over 15 years.

He was a beekeeper and enjoyed coin collecting, fishing and gardening.

Besides his mother of Greenfield, he leaves his wife of 24 years, the former Lynne A. Bennett; a son, Anthony J., and a daughter, Maria L., both at home; two sisters, Ann Emanuelli of Northampton and Janet Seredejko and her husband David of Greenfield; several aunts and uncles and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday (11/13) at 10 a.m. at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal St., Greenfield. Burial will follow in Green River Cemetery.

Calling hours will be Friday from 6 to 8 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Sympathy message available at: www.kostanskifuneralhome.com

Condolence Messages

From: Kostanski Funeral Home [mailto:webmaster@nfda.org]
Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 8:01 AM
To: funeral@kostanski.com
Subject: Condolence message has been added: Paul J. Emanuelli

Condolence message author: Virginia Avery
Lynn, Tony and Maria,
I am so sorry to hear of Paul's passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Virginia, Mike, Traci, John and Jacob

Condolence message author: Cheryl Richardson
My condolences to all of you. I worked with Paul on QWL and thought highly of him. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Author E-mail: njones@monarchlife.com
My deepest sympathies to everyone.
What a great guy. He yelled my name when I was in the fair parade this year and I looked over and saw him waving and smiling. We went through the Greenfield schools together and I am so thankful that I met him. One time we put about 5 gallons of diesel fuel in his parent's Chevrolet, thinking we were replacing the gas that we had used, and when the car was billowing huge clouds of smoke and sputtering we knew something was wrong. I'll always remember him fondly and will never forget him.

Condolence message author: Janice Handrahan
May you find peace in your memories of your husband, father, son and brother. Paul had a kind and compassionate personality when he was at Oakham, MA Post Office. God bless you and your family in these difficult times and into the future.

Condolence message author: Rose Randall-Hicks
Dear Lynn - I am so very sorry for your loss. My mom had just said she bumped into you and you were happy and had a family..She called today to tell me of your sudden loss and my heart dropped. I really wish there were something I could say or do that would make the process of grief easier but I will not lie, it is a long bumpy road. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Rose

Condolence message author: Carole Clark
Paul and I were so saddened to hear of Paul's passing. He was a good friend to me all those years at the Post Office. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Paul and Carole Clark
Warren, N.H.

Condolence message author: Nancy H
You are in my thoughts.

Condolence message author: Kathy & Greg Noyes
Dear Janet and Family,
I'm so sorry to hear about Paul passing away. I just want you to know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Bless you all.
Love, Kathy (Renaud) Noyes

Condolence message author: Kim Newton-Aldridge
Lynne, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. This is just terrible. Your husband was much too young to be taken. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your children at this very difficult time. May you find peace and understanding some day and may you always hold dear memories close in your heart. Love, Kim GHS classmate

Condolence message author: Julie OConnor
I was suprised to learn about Paul's death. Our family moved to Deefield about 7 years ago and have enjoyed Paul's service as our letter carrier.
Paul was always friendly and had a good sense of humor. He was appreciated and I just wanted to pass that along. Wishing you all the best.
Julie O'Connor and Family

Condolence message author: Barbara Wozniak
Janet, David and Family -
Sorry to read of the sudden passing of your brother, Janet. Our deepest sympathy to you and your entire family.
Barb and Peter Wozniak

Condolence message author: John McLellan
My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Emanuelli family during this difficult time. I had not seen Paul in many years but remember him from High School. He was always fun to be around and a genuine nice guy!

Condolence message author: Tim and Keiko
Lynne,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your kids during this difficult time. I am not sure that I've ever met Paul's mother, but I can only imagine how difficult it must be. Our sympathies are with her also.
--Tim and Keiko Brown

Condolence message author: Skip Melnik
I am so sorry to hear of Paul's passing. He has been a part of my life for several years as I would see him every day to either talk with, or to wave to. Recently, we often talked about our mutual interest in honeybees. I enjoyed hearing Paul talk about his bees and how he thought his children might benefit from the experience. I always felt uplifted after having talked with Paul and I will truly miss him. I felt a real emptiness today when I didn't see him come by for he was so much more than "our mailman" to me! Please accept my condolences.
Skip Melnik

Condolence message author: Debra Collins Gruszkowski
I wish to send my sympathy to Paul's loved ones. I was very sad to read of Paul's passing in the paper. I'm not a close friend but we were in school together for years. Even though you don't see someone on a regular basis, it is still very hard to think that you will never have that pleasant chance meeting ever again. I remember Paul from school, even though much of my memories of that time period are lost due to an accident back then. What I remember, strongly, is a very sweet gentle guy that always had a smile for you right from his eyes to his voice. My most recent chance encounter with Paul and his wife was at the big tag sale at Deerfield this past summer. I was trying to fit a chair and a bike into the back of my Forester and he and his wife helped fit them in. I remember him saying "If anyone can figure it out, it's my wife. She's real good with puzzles." He was right. I didn't place him at first but he called me by name immediately . I will miss such chance meetings.

Condolence message author: Jeanne Marsh
From the Marsh family to yours please except your condolences. We have many great neighborhood memories of Paul and your family. Prayers to all of you.

Condolence message author: Larry & Susan Flaccus
We were shocked and saddened to learn of Paul's untimely death.
I have fond memories of working with Paul as a photographer many years ago when he helped us print photos at Baystate.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
Larry and Susan

Condolence message author: Mark Haley
It is so hard to find words. I met Paul in sixth grade and share nothing but fond memories. I have to be thankful that I had such a great friend for almost forty years. I will surely miss him. My prayers are with you.

Hi,

This tribute is to Paul J. Emanuelli who died suddenly at only age 52. This is condolence to his sister Ann with whom I attended school, Janet, Ann's younger sister, and Shirley, Ann's mom. I knew the family well when we were all kids. Ann, Paul, and Janet were all fun to play with. Their dad Dino was very nice as is Shirley. As an only child at my own house, I found their house to be very exciting, lively, and fun. One time I remember Paul was up on the roof (for some reason), I said to Shirley, "It's sooooo much fun here." She said, "Come any time, it's always like this." I have fond memories of the whole family and just wanted to express this at this time.

Love,

Rosemary Jablonski

Greenfield, MA

Quotes That Seem Appropriate

You cannot do kindness too soon for you never know how soon it will be too late.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The deep pain that is felt at the death of every friendly soul arises from the feeling that there is in every individual something which is inexpressible, peculiar to him alone, and is, therefore, absolutely and irretrievably lost.
~Arthur Schopenhauer

In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
~Robert Ingersoll

If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.
~ Winnie the Pooh

As long as I can, I will look at this world for both of us. As long as I can, I will laugh with the birds, I will sing with the flowers, I will pray to the stars, for both of us.
~Sascha

Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. Therefore be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
~Henri-Frederic Amiel (1821-1881)

The future just ain't what it used to be.
~ Yogi Berra

Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.
~CS Lewis

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again.
~ James Taylor, Fire and Rain