Joan I. Martin

Joan I. Martin former longtime resident of Lowell; 59 Hudson, NH Mrs. Joan I. (Monbleau) Martin, age 59, a former longtime resident of Lowell and more recently of Hudson, NH, died Monday, August 4th 2008 at her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous two year battle with ALS/Lou Gherig's Disease. She was the wife of Roland W. Martin for over forty years with whom she owned and operated the Roland W. Martin Funeral Home in Lowell. Born in Lowell on July 18th, 1949, she was a daughter of Mrs. Laurette B. (Chandonnet) (Monbleau) Kauker and the late Roger R. Monbleau. She was a graduate of Ste Jeanne d'Arc School, St. Joseph Girls High School, she attended Lowell Commercial College and was a graduate of New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences class of 1982 at which time she became certified in funeral service. Joan was one of the first ladies in funeral service in the Greater Lowell Area having owned and operated their family business along with her husband and two sons. She was a longtime parishioner of the former Ste Jeanne d'Arc Church and more recently of the Parish of Saint Rita and was also a volunteer at the former St. Joseph's Hospital. She will be best remembered for her smile and her enjoyment for playing cards, watching Red Sox and Patriots games, shopping with her sisters, spending time at her Ogunquit, ME home, her dogs Mugsy and Sasha and especially her five grandchildren. Surviving her in addition to her husband Roland W. Martin are a daughter, Cheryl A. Martin of Lowell, two sons and two daughters in law; Stephen R. and Kimberly A. Martin of York, ME and Daniel R. and Alayna A. Martin of Lowell, her mother and step father, Laurette B. and Edward T. Kauker of Bethlehem, PA, five grandchildren, Jacob, Aidan and Ava of York , ME and Aldan and Adarra of Lowell, three sisters and three brothers in law; Elaine I. Hudon and her husband Paul of Nashua, NH, Janet E. Roth and her husband Michael of Hudson, NH, Adele V. Martin and her husband Roger of Dracut, also nieces and a nephew and many dear friends and funeral service colleagues. MARTIN Mrs. Joan I. (Monbleau) Martin. Relatives and friends may call at the ROLAND W. MARTIN FUNERAL HOME 308 Pawtucket Street, Lowell, MA on Wednesday from 3 until 8 pm. Her funeral will take place on Thursday morning with a funeral mass to be con-celebrated at 11 o'clock in the Parish of Saint Rita Church 158 Mammoth Road, Lowell. Graveside services and burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parish of St. Rita - St. Vincent de Paul Society 158 Mammoth Rd. Lowell, MA 01854 or the Ste Jeanne d'Arc School Memorial Fund 68 Dracut Street, Lowell, MA 01854.