WEBSTER – Irene A. (Chmielewski) Martel, 89, of Webster entered the spiritual world on October 29, 2013. Her husband of 45 years, Edgar H. Martel, died in 1993.
She leaves 2 sisters, Esther & her husband Emerson Reynolds, and Florence Parent; 2 nieces, Pamela Reynolds and Deborah Koziak; 2 nephews, Brian & his wife Wanda Reynolds, and James & his wife Melanie Parent; 3 great-nieces, Carrie Magnant, Kelly Parent & Amy Verdone; 5 great-nephews, Chad Parent, Derek Koziak, Jason Koziak, Patrick Reynolds & Christopher Reynolds; 7 great-grandnieces, Caitlin Peters, Nina Peters, Kristen Jacobs & Nealie Parent, Hayden O’Malley, Kaydee O’Malley & Madyson Koziak; 7 great-grandnephews, Nicholas Jacobs, Zachary Jacobs, Kasyn Robillard, Nathan Parent, Nolin Parent, Garret Koziak & Max O’Malley; and a cousin-brother, Thomas Gorski. She was predeceased by her sister-cousin, Cecilia Brisbois and by her brother-cousins, Joseph, Edward & John Gorski.
She was born in Dudley, a daughter of Stephen & Mary (Napierata) Chmielewski and lived here most of her life. She was a graduate of Saint Joseph Parochial School and Bartlett High School. She attended seminars at the University of Mass at Amherst.
Mrs. Martel always worked with people. In her youth she worked in several banks. Most of her adult life was spent in politics. She was clerk to the Board of Assessors in Webster for eight years. In 1971 she became head assessor for fourteen years. In 1982, she was voted the first woman to be a selectman in Webster’s 150 year history, a position she held for twenty-seven years, leaving the post of selectwoman at the age of 85. She also served as head assessor in Sturbridge for five years, the post from which she retired. Mrs. Martel’s political life lasted forty-seven years in Webster. She always said she had three families: her birth family, her church family and her town hall family.
She was a communicant of Saint Louis Church and a member and past president of its League of Catholic Women for over twenty-five years. She taught Christian Doctrine for ten years and was a lector. An avid bowler, she received thirteen trophies: she once bowled a high triple of 362 for 3 strings.
Mrs. Martel held many official positions in the Beta Lambda Sorority and also the Xi Rho Chapter.
The funeral will be held Saturday, November 2, from Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, with a Mass at 11:00 A.M. in Saint Louis Church, 15 Lake Street. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held Friday, November 1, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in the funeral home. Memorial donations in her name may be made to Saint Louis School Endowment Fund, 15 Lake Street, Webster, MA 01570.