Brian M. Riel

With heavy hearts we announce that Brian Marcel Riel, 65, of Boscawen, New Hampshire, passed away after a long illness. He was surrounded by his beloved wife and family.

He was born and raised in Norwich Connecticut on July 24, 1960, and was the son of Joseph (deceased) and (Lorraine Sylvestre) Riel. Brian attended Sacred Heart School until June of 1975 and then attended High School at Norwich Free Academy and graduated in June in the year of our Lord in 1979. He later graduated from the University of New Haven in June 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Science and a minor in Medical Pathology.

Brian was an Eagle Scout and completed all the requirements in December of 1975. He was a certified expert marksman, holding certification from the National Association of the Sprague Jr. Rifle Club in Connecticut, which he was very proud of from 1975 through 1977.

When Brian was fourteen years old, he started working for Frieda (deceased) and Delor Mossey at their business called Al Seifert’s Nursery in Connecticut, until he graduated from college, working summers. They became very dear friends to him whom he loved dearly.

He was a veteran of the Gulf War era and peacetime. Brian proudly served his country as a brave patriot in the United States Marine Corp. from 4/16/81 to 1/7/2006 in both active duty for thirteen years and served in the Reserves for additional twelve years. He left with an Honorable Discharge and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He also was on their bicycling and rugby teams.

After he was released from full-time duty from the Marine Corp., he moved to New Hampshire and began working as a Sales Representative for Hallmark until he got accepted to attend the police academy in Concord, New Hampshire while also serving as a reserve in the Marines as a weekend warrior.

In 1996, while still a reserve officer, Brian started working for the Manchester, NH Police Department. He worked there for twenty-two years before retiring from full-time in May of 2015. Brian stayed on with the PD as a Special until 2017 when he got a declining health diagnosis. Brian had spent nine years of his police career, as a detective in the PD, working on child sex abuse cases and believing he made a difference. He was also known by his fellow co-workers as the Colonel.

Brian loved the outdoors and pursued a variety of interests, including gardening, poultry keeping, viticulture, wine production, and cultivating hops for beer brewing. He grew various pears and apples in his orchard and enjoyed woodworking, hunting, skiing, rock climbing, cycling, and traveling all over the world. He possessed expertise in plumbing and electrical work, demonstrating versatility as a skilled general repair technician.

Brian’s Catholic faith was the foundation of his life. He demonstrated a strong devotion to the rosary and to the Blessed Mother Mary. He was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Manchester, NH, and Christ the King Parish, Concord, NH.

Brian’s family members include his beloved wife, Muriel (Sevigny) Riel of twenty-one years; stepsons Nicholas Dube (Meredith Raczka) and Anthony (Brandi) Dube, whom he loved as his own; a sister in Connecticut; a brother in New York; and a sister in Virginia. He is also survived by his long-time military friends, Hamlet Hernandez and his wife Sara, as well as Hoyt Sweeney and his wife Karen, all from Connecticut. Additionally, he is survived by his other close friends, Jaime and Casey Branch of New Hampshire.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, November 19th 5:00-7:00pm at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 172 King Street in Boscawen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am Thursday, November 20th at Christ the King Parish, 72 South Main Steet in Concord. Brian will be laid to rest with Military Honors at NH State Veterans Cemetery during a privately attended committal service. To view an online memorial, or for more information, please visit https://phaneuf.net/.