It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our dear father Joseph Martel on Sunday, January 26, 2025 due to declining health at the age of 95.
Born in St. Albans, VT, he was the son of the late Nazare & Aurora Martel.
Joseph served proudly in the United States Navy of WWII and the Korean War. He was aboard destroyers and retired as a Commissaryman 1st class after 22 years. After many trips out to sea, his home base was Newport RI. He was last stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion 1960-61.
When his ship, the USS Daly DD-519, was being decommissioned and heading to Virginia, a rogue wave caused the ship to list 65 degrees killing one sailor and sweeping 50 others overboard. The wives were alerted of the dire situation, but additional information was not to be had. Families gathered at Newport Naval Base waiting on the pier to find out if their loved one was coming home. Dad had been in the galley cooking and held on to the pipes overhead which saved his life.
He was also a recipient of the National Service Defense Medal, the Bronze Star and the China Service Medal.
Although his wife Jane passed away in 2018, he celebrated their 75th anniversary on January 3rd.
Dad had a second life of work after retiring from the service. He was meat manager of Grand Central Market in Tiverton and Somerset for 40 years. Many husbands and wives would visit him to order that special piece of meat that needed precise attention.
Dad was a strong-willed man, stubborn, kind, and giving. He loved to converse, ordered way too much from QVC, and enjoyed going out to eat and having a good steak and a CC and soda water on the rocks which he thought was the bees’ knees!
Joseph loved his family very much. He is survived by his daughter Nancy Neto of Fall River and predeceased by his son-in-law Jerry. He also leaves his son Ronald Martel and wife Susan of Tiverton, two grand children: Brandon Neto and wife Kelly of Fall River, Andrea Palumbo husband Nicholas of Tiverton; five great-grandchildren: Andrew and Ethan Neto and Luca, Anna, and Nina Palumbo; a sister-in-law Helen Ryan and husband John of CT; along with many nieces and nephews.
He leaves many friends and neighbors who lent helping hands and to whom we are very thankful: Gary and Susan Lambert, Brad Gendreau & Marie, Susan Faria, and David Tavares.
Joseph was predeceased by brothers Morris, Wilfred, and Floyd Martel, sisters Doris, Barbara, Joyce, & Pauline.
Dad, you were one of the great ones. We will all love and miss you dearly. Now you join our Lord and your wife dear, Janey!
To honor Joe’s memory, should you go out for a nice steak (medium rare), think of him!
Memorial Mass to which relatives and friends are invited will be Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at St. Theresa's Church, Tiverton at 11:00 A.M.
Memorial visitation will be Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the Potter Funeral Home from 4-7 P.M.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Providence, 45 Gay St., Providence, RI 02905 or to the Tiverton V.F.W. Post 5902, 134 Shove St., Tiverton, RI 02878.