Duane Wellington Brookes

Duane Wellington Brookes, 94, of Westbrook, beloved husband of the late Mary (Nucci) Brookes, passed away peacefully at Chestelm Health and Rehabilitation on Sunday, September 22, 2019.  Born on March 13, 1925 in Middletown, he was the son of the late Arthur W. and Barbara (McKean) Brookes.

Duane graduated Deep River High School, Class of 1943.  Duane enlisted in the United States Navy on May 31, 1943 and served until February 1946 in the Pacific.  He received the Philippine Liberation Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge for his service.  After returning home, he married the love of his life, Mary Nucci on June 18, 1949, their marriage continuing for sixty five years until her death in 2014.

Duane was President and CEO of Arthur Brookes Sons, Inc. and an active member of the Lions Club of Haddam and the Elks Club of Middletown for many years.

Duane is survived by his sons, Mark Brookes and his wife Raye of Haddam and Colin Brookes and his wife, Anne of Portland; his grandchildren, Sean Brookes, Erin Dempster, Talia Bruce, Tessa Taylor, Nara Harrison, Charity Wallington, Reed Brookes, Britney Collis and Valerie Cruz; twenty great grandchildren, three great, great grandchildren and two sisters, Beverly Morse and Mary Alice Matulevich.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, September 29 at 1:00 pm at the Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell.  Burial will follow in Tylerville Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded.

Family and friends may call on Saturday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Cromwell Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Duane’s memory may be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611 or www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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