Rachel A. Martel,88, of 30 County Drive died Sunday, December 1, 2002 in the Belknap County Home after an extended illness. A lifelong resident of Laconia, she was born here on May 31, 1914, the daughter of Delphis and Anna (Lessard) Gilbert. Following her parents’ deaths, Alfred & Annette Pomerleau and their daughter Judy Hawkins took her in at the age of 12 and raised her to adulthood.
Prior to her retirement in 1977, she was employed in production work at Wilcom Electronic. She had previously worked at the former Caron Box Co. and also at Scott & Williams.
Mrs. Martel was a communicant of Sacred Heart parish and was a member of the Canados and the Ladies of St. Anne since 1948.
She was pre-deceased by her husband, Alfred Martel in 1986, a son, Ronald Martel in October 2001 and a brother, Roland Gilbert.
Family members include a son, Normand Martel and his wife, Betty of Gorham NH; a daughter-in-law, Terry Martel of Laconia; four grandchildren, Perry Martel of Rutland VT, Matthew Martel of Berlin NH, Kevin Martel of Italy and Scott Martel of Seattle WA; three great-grandchildren, Ashley Martel, Jonathan Martel and Andrew Martel; a sister, Mrs. Germaine Green of Brookfield MA.
Calling hours were in the Simoneau & Lambert Funeral Home, 139 Church St. on Tuesday from 4 to 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave. on Wednesday at 11 AM. Rev. Adrien Longchamps was the celebrant. Burial followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Belknap County Home Residents Fund, 30 County Dr., Laconia NH 03246. Timothy C. Molan and David L. Furber were the funeral directors.