Veronica M. (Chojnacki) Martel

Veronica Marion (Chojnacki) Martel passed away on August 18, 2018 surrounded by her family in Sewickley PA.  She was born May 13, 1930 to Alois and Catherine Chojnacki in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  The family resettled in Gardner Massachusetts in 1945.

Ronnie graduated from Gardner High School in 1948 and continued her studies at Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital Nursing School, graduating in 1951.  She went on to practice in Gardner with a focus on OB/GYN, and then relocated to Hartford CT where her focus was on neurology.  She was selected to work by Seaborne-Wesson, a contract airline carrier, on global flights as an RN transporting military staff and their families. She was based out of Honolulu, New York City and San Francisco.  From there she traveled the world, visiting some of its farthest regions.  She enjoyed telling her family and friends of her experiences while traveling. Stories she most liked to share were of her visits to Thailand and racing to see the reclining Buddha. When in India, she took a quick sleep-deprived trip to the Taj Mahal before escorting a plane full of Rhesus monkeys back to the US.  She loved Europe and in particular, Germany, where she delighted in their cuisine and pastries.   

While in Gardner on a break from her work schedule, she met her future husband, Dr. Charles Martel. They married in 1957.  They welcomed four children into their lives, raising them in Gardner with annual vacations with her treasured sister Susanna and her family and their friends in Chatham MA. 

Veronica is predeceased by her beloved son, Roland Martel and sister Susanna Favreau.   She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dr. Charles Martel, as well as their three children, Charles Martel and his wife Shelly of Pittsburgh PA; Anne Mahoney and her husband Brian of Studio City CA and Maria Bryant and her husband Shaun of Flower Mound TX.  She leaves five grandchildren - Jamie White and his wife Amber, Breanne Forstrom and her husband Eric, Veronica Mahoney, Catherine and Roland Bryant and one great grandson, Theodore White.  She also leaves her nieces and nephews - Catherine Favreau, William Favreau, Priscilla Martel, Christopher Martel and great nephews, Leonard Komow and Thomas Komow. 

A memorial service will be held at the Masonic Village of Sewickley on Thursday August 23^rd at noon.  A funeral mass and burial is scheduled to take place at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Baldwinville MA on September 29, 2018 @ 10:00 am

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