Dallas Ann (Gould) Martel

Dallas Ann (Gould) Martel, 86, of Bristol, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Born on September 26, 1938 and raised in New Britain, she attended local schools.  She later lived in Plainville for nearly 55 years, where she raised her children.

She was the family matriarch and historian, a devoted mother, an ardent New York Mets fan, and a generous person to all. Well-known as a fierce setback player, she was also an avid crocheter who gave away everything she made - hats for American service members, lap robes for veterans, and over a thousand baby blankets. In fact, she rushed to finish several baby blankets as the end of her days neared.

She worked for Bristol Housing as a front desk monitor at Komanetsky Estates for 23 years until her retirement in 2018, and was honored by Bristol Housing for her dedicated service. She also called bingo for Komanetsky residents nearly every Saturday night for 25 years. She was a lifetime member of the Polish Club of Colchester.  

Those who loved her will remember her strength and humor - traits reflected in her signature quip that getting old is not for the faint of heart.

Besides her parents, George and Jennie (Lancaster) Gould, she was predeceased by her husband, Louis E. Martel, her brother, Vinton Lancaster; her sister, Rose Marie Brooks; her three infant sisters, Sidelle, Charity, and Dorothea; and her son-in-law, Kenneth Morford. She leaves her children, Michael Jennings; Jennie Martel and her partner, Michael Benner; Allyson Martel; and Rachael Paradis and her husband, Steve Paradis; her grandchildren, Brian Carroll and his wife, Stephanie Tait, Abigail Paradis, Matthew Paradis, Ainsley Morford, and Colby Morford; her sister, Willa Rae Fredrickson; her brother-in-law, Maurice Martel; her sister-in-law, Charlene Martel; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, among them her dear friends from Komanetsky - past and present.

The family is grateful to Dr. Nelson Bondhus and Dr. Fawad Kazi, who cared for Dallas with compassion for many years; to the care team at Brighton Hospice; and to Tyson Belanger and everyone at Shady Oaks, who welcomed Dallas into the community and showed her love, respect, and dignity.  

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 21 from 5:00-7:00pm at Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad Street, Plainville.  A memorial will be held on Friday, August 22 at 10:30am at the funeral home, followed by committal at West Cemetery, Plainville. In place of flowers, donations in Dallas’s memory may be made to the Plainville Community Food Pantry (https://www.plainvillefoodpantry.org) or the Connecticut Humane Society (https://cthumane.org). For more information or to leave online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.PlainvilleFuneralHome.com.

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