Obituary of Bruce F. Coluccio

Bruce Frank Coluccio was born on February 26, 1938 in Rome, New York to his parents Louis and Lula Coluccio. He was the youngest of 7 children. Being born into a large family in a small house, Bruce learned the value of love, loyalty, and hard work. Summers were spent outside in the neighborhood and playing in the Mohawk river. Visits to Corfew, outside Buffalo, were frequent to spend time with aunts, uncles and cousins who became lifelong friends. Bruce attended and graduated from Rome Free Academy where he played football. After graduation in 1956, he followed his brothers into the Navy where he served and trained as a machinist on the USS Hector in the Pacific Ocean along the coast of California and Japan. Upon returning home from the Navy, Bruce took a job working as an attendant at Marcy State Hospital where he proceeded to break the rules and dated a nursing student from Brooklyn. Her name was Carmella Falco. On May 4, 1962, they married, and she became Carmella Coluccio. They made a home on Phillips Road where they could overlook the city. There, they raised 3 Children, and were happy together for 59 years. In 1963 Bruce joined the Rome Fire Department where he served for 33 years obtaining the rank of Captain. Bruce would tell you “if you love your job, you’ll never have to work a day in your life”. He loved being a fireman and working with his “brothers”. In a job where he often saw tragedy, Bruce was lucky enough to work on the Rescue Rig where he got to save lives as well. Bruce was active in the International Association of Firefighters where he served as Sergeant at arms and Vice President. After retirement served for many years as President of the Retired Police and Firefighters association. The schedule at the fire department afforded the time to work a second job. Bruce spent some years driving for Bernie Bus where he especially enjoyed transporting the local high school sports teams. His favorite part time job was the years he spent working with his brother-in-law, Don Barber, installing furnaces and air conditioning units. As a gift on her first communion, he bought his daughter a horse. That led to eventually raising, riding, boarding, training and showing horses for 8 years. It was a thrill to ride the horses to the edge of the hill on Canterbury Hill Road, turn them back toward home, give them their heads and then hold on. Bruce’s horses were Duke, Star, Misty, Rusty, Spook, Lightning, and Shadow. Bruce’s favorite past time was golf. Bruce played many rounds with his friends, brothers and brother-in-law. He was a member at Bever Creek and most recently at Sleep Hollow. After retirement Bruce and Carmella began to travel to the places they had always wanted to see. They drove across the country where he played golf on the Baja peninsula. They ducked into Blue Grotto under the island of Capri in Italy. They traveled high into the Alps to gaze upon the Matterhorn. They climbed the ruins of Machu Picchu and explored the Galapagos Islands. They visited the Great Pyramids and floated in the Dead Sea. They visited the birthplace of Christ and renewed their vows in Cana. They saw the Acropolis in Greece and The Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos. They visited the Great Pyramids and went to France to be blessed and dipped in the healing waters in Lourdes. Bruce is predeceased by his parents Louis and Lula Coluccio, sister Dolores Wakulik, brothers Robert Coluccio and his wife Donna, Herbert Coluccio and his wife Emma, and brother in-laws Don Barber and Neilan Lawrence. Bruce is survived by his wife, Carmella, sisters Thelma Barber and Emma Lawrence, brother Edward and his wife Betty and brother-in-law Ray Wakulik. Bruce’s children are Teresa Bowman and her husband Terry, Robin Coluccio and boyfriend Jason Diehl, Bruce L. Coluccio and his wife Rose. Bruce’s grandchildren are, John Tarbania and Fiancée Mary, Andrew Bowman and Fiancée Liz, Leah True, Steven Ellis, Vincent Ellis and his wife Mary, Bruce J. Coluccio, Christopher Coluccio, Sarah Coluccio and Kaitlyn Coluccio. His great grandchildren are Amanda Tarbania and fiancée Greish, Venessa Tarbania, Mason Tarbania, Kylie Tarbaina, Ed True, Mariah True, Alex True, Gialani Canaddy. Natalia Canaddy, Carmella Ellis and Madiline Ellis. Bruce Frank Coluccio led a full life. It ended quietly in the same town where it began, surrounded by family, on April 19, 2021. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 26th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 1807 Bedford St., Rome. Family and friends are invited to call at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, on Sunday, April 25th from 1-3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Abraham House, a hospice facility at 417 N Washington St, Rome NY 13440. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a limited number of guests will be allowed to enter the funeral home at one time, everyone must wear a face covering upon entering and proper social distancing protocols must be adhered to once inside. You may light a candle, send a message of sympathy, and read the obituary at www.nunnandharper.com.