FRENCHVILLE and FORT KENT – Martine Rita (Nadeau) Gauvin, 75, died June 27, 2011, in Fort Kent. She was born June 18, 1936, in Lac Baker, New Brunswick, oldest daughter of the late Albert and Alphena (Caron) Nadeau.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Ghislain “Gus” Gauvin of Fort Kent; four sons, Daniel of Presque Isle, Anthony of Fort Kent, Andrew and his wife, Debra, of Hancock, and Gary and his wife, Lori, of Winterport; and “une seule fille,” Kathleen Ann of Mars Hill. She is also survived by two grandsons, Adam Joshua Gauvin and Kelsey Michael Gauvin; four granddaughters, Cassandra Rita Morton and her husband, Aaron, Sarah Beth Gauvin, Olivia Monique Gauvin, and Bronwyn Mae Gauvin; one great-grandson, Gabriel Raymond Morton; four brothers, Guy Nadeau of Montreal, Gilman Nadeau of Lac Baker, New Brunswick, Hermel Nadeau and his wife, Micheline, of Lac Baker, New Brunswick, and Jean-Louis and his partner, Claire, of St. Jacques, New Brunswick; four sisters, Rena Nadeau and her husband, Edgar, of Lac Baker, New Brunswick, Muriel Beaulieu and her husband, Francis, of St. David, Clarette Dionne of Red Field, N.Y., and Ginette Ouellette and her husband, Lawrence, of Lac Baker, New Brunswick; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; two sisters-in-law, Francoise Ouellette and her husband, Romeo, of Edmundston, New Brunswick, and Pierrette Ringuette, and her husband, Adrien, of Montreal. She was predeceased by a sister-in-law, Emily Nadeau of Lac Baker, New Brunswick; one nephew, Jean-Yves Nadeau of Lac Baker, New Brunswick; and two infant nephews.
Martine attended St. Louis Catholic Church and was a Dame de Sainte-Anne. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, sister and a friend to all. She attended schools in Lac Baker, New Brunswick, until eighth grade at which time she quit to stay at home to care for her younger siblings. Nonetheless, she was highly educated as she motivated and educated herself through her children’s many school and library books, and in later years, through her own library of books. Martine was a woman who saw the “silver lining in every cloud,” and who truly believed that there was some good in the heart of all people. She consistently chose not to complain, but rather to be ever thankful. She remained focused on the “haves” and not the “have nots.” Though qualified and capable of career work, Martine chose to be a stay-at-home mother; what great joy, comfort and security she gave to her children. She was known to deny herself unrelentingly to give, instead, of herself to the needs of her husband, children, family, friends and neighbors. She even volunteered to raise funds for such organizations such as American Heart Association. As the children grew, she began to work out of her home as a seamstress. She was amply qualified as she had already sewn numerous outfits, bathing suits to three-piece suits for her five children. They were known to be some of the best-dressed children in grade school. She did alterations for Village Squire clothing store for many years, and once used her talent to sew a fully beaded and sequined wedding gown for a client. Her quality of work spoke for itself; she never had to advertise. Martine was a woman of character and integrity; she had an enduring strength; she proved to be resilient and tenacious through many trials and afflictions ever determined to press in and to carry on. Martine was extremely talented: she sewed, knitted, crocheted, cross-stitched, embroidered, tatted, cooked, baked entertained, landscaped, decorated, fly-fished and hunted. She was proficient at jigsaw, crossword and Sudoku puzzles. She was truly the catch of one fisherman’s life! What Martine did best was love; she loved her husband, sons and daughter, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, extended family, neighbors, friends, and her two very, very special certified nurse’s aides deeply. After many years of poor health and serious physical impairments she finally succumbed to ALS “Lou Gehrig’s” disease.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday until time of service at Daigle Funeral Home, Fort Kent. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Fort Kent.