It is with deep sorrow that our family announces the unexpected passing of our beloved brother and uncle, Deacon William Frederick Bruening. Bill was born in San Francisco on July 19, 1945, to George Frederick Bruening of Cicero, Illinois and Lola Anne Bruening (Paganelli) of Lunata, Italy. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Elementary School, Jefferson High School in Daly City and San Francisco State University earning master’s degrees in business and accounting, and his Teaching Credential.

Bill spent most of the 70's as a Monk at the St. Benedict's Abby at Fort Augustus, Inverness-Shire, Scotland. He chose the name Brother Peter Damian. Returning to San Francisco about 1980, He was a Professor of Business and Accounting first at San Francisco State University as an Associate Dean and then at Skyline College in San Bruno.

Bill was ordained a Deacon on June 26, 1999, at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. Bill was a Deacon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Daly City and a Chaplain at Mary’s Help Hospital. Bill was Knighted by the Queen of England on November 1, 2002. I believe for his research and documentation of the history of the Saint Benedict's Abby that closed in 1993 and became Deacon Sir William F. Bruening.

He came to Chico in March of 2015 to be close to family after he retired. Bill was a Deacon at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a Chaplain at Enloe Hospital. Deacon Bill spent a life of sharing God's love and comforting people in their time of need. He will be dearly missed.

Bill leaves behind his brother James and his wife Leslie Bruening (Risso) of Durham; his nephews Michael Bruening of Chico and Christopher Bruening of Merced, CA and his wife Angela Bruening (Ramsey), his nephew Alexander and niece Elise. Bill also leaves behind his sister Susanne Alexander (Bruening) of Oakland, CA; and niece Shalaya Shipman of Tarzana, CA and her husband Montee Kelly and their daughter Isley Kelly. Deacon Bill leaves behind countless close personal and professional friends that he loved and considered his extended family both here in the United States and in Scotland.

There will be a Mass on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church located at 416 Chestnut St, Chico, CA 95928. There will be an additional mass on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help located at 60 Wellington Ave, Daly City, CA 94014 with a graveside service following at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery located at 1500 Mission Rd, Colma, CA 94014.

To send condolences to the family please go to www.NewtonBracewell.com.

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