VAN BUREN – Marthe R. (St. Pierre) Lajoie Ouellette, 97, died Aug. 5, 2009, at a Van Buren health care facility. She had been a resident of Borderview Rehab and Living Center since August 2006. Marthe was born April 19, 1912, in Ste. Anne de Madawaska, New Brunswick, the daughter of Philippe and Elise (Michaud) St. Pierre. She was married to Gilbert J. Lajoie, a potato farmer from Cyr Plantation, Nov. 11, 1933. They had four children, Jeannine Gagnon of Van Buren, Normand and Maxine Lajoie of Cyr Plantation, Father Roland Lajoie, SM, of Boston and Gerard and Bernadette Lajoie of Van Buren. She and Gilbert became guardians of three nieces, Marlene Donahue, Myrna Keiss and Priscilla Fortin, daughters of the deceased Emile and Alice Lajoie, from 1950 to 1960. Gilbert died unexpectedly in August 1956. In January 1962, Marthe married Lucien Ouellette, a postman from Van Buren. Lucien was a widower who had nine children, Anne and Wilfred Doucette of Van Buren, Maxine and Normand Lajoie of Cyr Plantation, Bernadette and Gerard Lajoie of Van Buren, Lucien and Rachel Ouellette Jr., also of Van Buren, Stella and Robert Rowe of Bristol, Conn., Therese and Patrick Ouellette of Wolcott, Conn., Carmella Ouellette of Winter Park, Fla., Joan and Richard Townsend of Salisbury, Md., and Donald and Patricia Ouellette of Augusta; 35 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Lucien Ouellette Sr., her second husband, predeceased her in 1976. Marthe was a lifelong parishioner of St. Peter Chanel Parish, Van Buren. She was a member of Ladies of St. Anne and Marist Third Order of Mary. Relatives and friends may call 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at Ouellette-Thibault Funeral Home, 118 High St., Van Buren. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Bruno-St. Remi Catholic Church. Committal service and interment will be in the parish cemetery. Memorial donations for Masses may be offered for the repose of the soul of Marthe or in support of Knights of Columbus Parish Needs Fund, 284 Main St., Van Buren, ME 04785, Marist Fathers Senior Religious Fund, 518 Pleasant St., Framingham, MA 01701 or Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 409 Pool St., Biddeford, ME 04005. To leave online condolences, please visit www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.
MARTHE R. OUELLETTE
