Mrs. Bernadette Puniello passed away on Jan. 10, 2018, surrounded by her family in Aruba, her home away from home. She was the beloved wife of Carmine J. Puniello.  They were married for 54 years.

Born in Pawtucket, R.I., on Sept.18, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Eleanor (Dundon) Casey.  

Bernadette was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy (Bay View) and Rhode Island College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. She served as a school teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School before opening and running Kiddyland, a former preschool in Bristol, for more than 20 years.

She was an active member in Bristol SPRED program, as well as the Special Olympics, both of which benefitted her daughter, Carmen. Bernadette was an avid traveler and loved to knit and read historical books. She will be remembered for her sharp wit and sense of humor and the love she showed for her family each day.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her loving children, Ann M. Leary and her husband William Leary of Bristol, Beth M. Machado and her husband Michael Machado of Barrington, Carmen Puniello of Bristol, Dominick B. Puniello and his wife, Anabell Puniello of Swansea, Mass., John A. Puniello and his wife Kerry Puniello of Bristol, and Jennifer A. Puniello of Bristol.  She was the cherished grandmother of Matthew, Emma, Meaghan and Ethan Leary, Casey, Kyle, Ryan and Timothy Machado, and Carmine and Abigail Puniello.  Bernadette is also survived by her two sisters, Mary Petrie of West Bridgewater, Mass., and Kathleen Sabetti of Smithfield.  

Funeral services from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood St., Bristol, are Saturday, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State St., Bristol. Burial will follow in North Burial Ground, Hope Street, Bristol. Visiting hours are Friday, Jan. 19, from 4 to 8 p.m.

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In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105-9959 or online at www.stjude.org/memorial, or to the RI Special Olympics, 370 George Washington Hwy., Smithfield, RI  02917 or online at www.specialolympicsri.org. For online condolences, shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com