Lionel M. Martel

Lionel M. Martel, 97, of Ormond Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2014 at Florida Hospital Hospice Care in Daytona Beach. Mr. Martel was born on February 9, 1917 in Woonsocket, RI to the late Elphege Martel and Eugenie (Marcotte) Martel. He was preceded in death by Jeannette (Brodeur) Martel, his loving wife of 61 years.

Mr. (Nel) Martel moved to the Daytona Beach area in 1987 from North Smithfield, RI, after retiring as a shipper from the New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry. He was a World War II Army Veteran from 1941 to 1944 and served as a Sergeant in Company "M", 29th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the Transportation Division in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe regions, and along the Meuse River in the vicinity of Namur and Liege, Belgium during the "Battle of the Bulge". His military qualifications included marksman rifle 1st gunner, and he was part of the 3rd Wave who landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy. He also served as a French interpreter in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. He was decorated with the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon and was a recipient of the Good Conduct Medal of Honor Award. Nel was part of "The Greatest Generation" who developed values of personal responsibility, duty, honor, and faith.

He enjoyed caring for and riding his horses, traveling and reading, but most of all, he enjoyed making memories with his family. Nel did everything with a humor and style that will never be forgotten. He was a compassionate and loving man, who will be truly missed by all who knew him. Left to cherish his memory are his children Paulette Martel and David Martel both of Ormond Beach and Francine Berthold of Windermere, FL. He is also survived by a brother, Gerard Martel of Woonsocket RI, and a sister, Jeannette Boulay of Cumberland, RI, along with three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Preceding in death are three brothers, Lucien Martel, Omer Martel, and Paul Martel and four sisters, Lillian Lagace, Beatrice Jolicoeur, Yvette Duhamel, and Pauline Franca.

He attended St. Brendan's Church in Ormond Beach and was a former member of the Church of Epiphany in Port Orange. A memorial service will be held in Rhode Island at a later date followed by a committal service with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Florida Hospital Hospice Care, 301 Memorial Medical Parkway, Daytona Beach, FL 32117. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com.