Obituary of Jeannine Martineau

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Jeannine Martineau on April 25, 2018, after a short battle with cancer. Jeannine was born on March 15, 1934, daughter of Alfred and Marguerite Clermont. She grew up on the family farm south of Lafleche and attended Harwood and Mathieu School. Mom is survived by her husband Emile whom she married on November 18th, 1953. Dad was an attentive presence as Mom needed more and more care and did what he could to make sure she was comfortable and assured her often of his love for her both in word and gesture. They were blessed with 10 children - Joe and children Joleine, Cherisse (Jordan), and Craig (Ashley); Bernard (Heather) and children Charles (Stacey), Jayson (Karine), and Denille (Shane); Diane (Graham) and children Nicole (Devon), Garrett (Alanna), and Kayle; Therese (Ron) and children Jared (Kate), Andrew (Cherie), and Kira (Devin); Louise and children Chelsea (Taylor), Christine, Tara (Rick), and Jessica (Rob); Leon (Val) and children Darian (Brett) and Jacey; Mariette (Dean) and children Nathaniel, Elyssa, and Benjamin; Raymond (Laureen) and children Andrea, Thomas, and Mathew; Maurice and children Aimee Lynn and Rebecca; and Jeannette (Kevin) and children TJ and Carson. She is great grandmother to Jadyn, April, Joey, Taylor, Carissa, Lily, Jackson, Danika, McKynlie, Hadleigh, Hannah, Cole, Taya, Takeo, Veiko, Poppy, Grady, and Kaide. She is survived by her sister Irene, brother Eugene (Irene) and brother Raymond (Claire) and sisters-in-law Laurette, Beatrice, and Rita. Mom was predeceased by her parents, her mother and father inlaw, her beloved daughter-in-law Donna, her brother Roger and his wife Fern, and brothers-in-law Bernard and Larry, and Armand. Jeannine was a hard worker and nurtured that in her children. She was an excellent homemaker and could do it all - baking, cooking, seasonal celebrations, gardening. Her buns, cookies and cakes often welcomed us home after school, and as we lived only a few houses down from the school, we would start guessing what it might be as we headed home. She worked long days taking care of us when Dad was out answering a furnace call or fixing a pump for the southern ranchers. She got 10 children to church every Sunday, in their Sunday best, no questions asked! Jeannine was a dressmaker, costume designer, hair stylist, baseball scorer, and organizer, and sometimes those roles changed every few minutes depending on what her children needed. She helped us learn answers to catechism questions, learn how to cook for 12 every day, and cater to over 200 people at our weddings. Jeannine was creative and crafty - paper tole, quilting, furniture recovering, knitting, and other crafts. Somehow our parents managed to take us on vacations, with the family loaded into a station wagon, van with a bed in the back, or a canopy-covered truck. Destinations included the Regina Exhibition, the Rocky Mountains, Cypress Hills, Madge Lake, driving through the southern badlands in and out of the USA, and Saskatoon berry picking. No one had better picnic fare then Jeannine: fried chicken, potato salad, and homemade pie. She spent 9 years as custodian at Mathieu Separate School. After she raised her own children, she started a home daycare taking care of more. She won horticultural fair prizes, coordinated the local dance club, and was instrumental in the Lafleche Club 50. She secured grants for the club, helped redecorate, and started the Heartfelt Quilt Club that is still quilting. She received a provincial volunteer award for her work with the community. Mom took pride in her flower gardens and was a very kind hearted woman. She was a woman of faith, and did what she could to share that faith with others as a Mom and as a Catholic Women’s League member, helping with funeral lunches and other activities. She regularly corresponded with her Foster Plan foster child. She was a faithful parishioner at Ste Radegonde Parish for close to 75 years and continued to celebrate her faith at St. Joseph’s and Church of Our Lady in Moose Jaw. She was an avid and competitive card player and continued to play cards with friends and family up to a week before her health seriously started to fail. The Scotties and Brier were celebrated events for her, along with watching her beloved Blue Jays. She was so darned proud of all of her children. It didn’t matter what we did for a living or how bratty our kids were; she was proud of each of us. She spent hours (days!) at the rink, at dance competitions, at the ball diamonds and in the rink kitchen to support our activities. She loved it when her children came home to visit; the more the merrier. She loved hearing how our children were doing and what they were doing. She loved being a mom, grandma, aunt, great grandma, and a friend. We love you Mom, and we know that God has embraced you saying, "Alleluia,You are home!” You are missed already. Thank you Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital and Lafleche Health Center for taking care of Mom in her final weeks - you are making a difference in the quality of life of all whom you care for! Vigil Prayers were celebrated on Sunday, April 29, 2018, 7:00 p.m., at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Moose Jaw, SK. Presiding for prayers was Mariette Martineau. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Monday, April 30, 2018, 11:00 a.m., at Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church, Lafleche, SK, with Father Doug Jeffrey OMI celebrant. The eulogy was shared by Maurice Martineau and Cherisse Martineau. Readers were Denille Yonkman and Elyssa Woodbeck. Urn bearer was Joe Martineau. Cross bearer was Nathaniel Woodbeck and candle bearers were McKynlie Martineau and Jackson Stern. Pallbearers were Joleine Martineau, Craig Martineau, Nicole Vandewetering, Charles Martineau, Jayson Martineau, Jared Durston, Andrew Durston, Chelsea Alexander, Christine Feiffer, Darian Glennie, Rob Ozog, Andrea Martineau, Thomas Martineau, and Taber Ebert. Greeters were Kira Durston, Jessica Alexander, Jacey Martineau, Benjamin Woodbeck, Mathew Martineau, and Carson Ebert. Interment took place at the Lafleche Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations made be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Ste Radegonde Parish (Lafleche) or St. Joseph’s Parish (Moose Jaw).