Leatrice’s Obituary Leatrice Martin 91, of Somersworth NH, died Monday, March 25, 2019, at Colonial Hills Care Center in Rochester following an extended period of failing health. Born in Somersworth on October 7, 1927, she was the 13th child of Alfred LaPointe and Marie Louise Rainville. She lived in Somersworth her entire life.
She was predeceased by her sisters; Aurora Morin, Flora Gagnon, Anita Jones, Patricia LaPointe and Geraldine McAllister, and her brothers; Alfred, Leo, Richard, Robert and Paul. She is survived by her husband, Fernand Martin of Somersworth; son David of Somersworth; son Michael and his wife Sunni, of Denmark, Maine; daughter Catherine and her husband, Ralph Nodine, of Portland, Maine, 5 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Lee, as she preferred to be called, grew up during the great depression.
Her Somersworth high school years coincided directly with the Second World War. She graduated and spent several years deciding in which direction her life would go. She worked in a dress shop.
She worked in a shoe factory, and she cared for and helped her parents at home when they needed help. Her sister introduced her to a young man named Fern and they were married in January of 1951. Lee was an intellectual beyond her Somersworth High school education.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed a good cowboy/western story as well as mysteries, historic novels and biographies. She enjoyed watching television, especially shows that brought her to different parts of the world. She was intrigued by the mysterious and often commented that if she had lived a different life she would have wanted to be a spy.
She was curious about science and technology. She enjoyed talking to people who were studying in various fields about what they were doing in their studies, whether it was veterinary medicine or theology. She avidly enjoyed listening to classical music when she was in charge of the music of the household, and learned to also enjoy other musical genres as the Beatles took to the airways and the home stereo.
She wanted to learn and she expected her children to be intellectually curious as well. Lee was adventuresome at heart and enjoyed hearing and reading of other people’s adventures. She imagined the fun it would be to be racing on skis or sky- diving.
She rode on a roller coaster with her grandchildren. She didn’t have the opportunity to travel much, but she took one grand trip to Europe with her sister in law, Rose, as she neared age 50. She relished the memories of that trip for the rest of her life.
She got her driver’s license at about that same time and flaunted her new- found independence. Lee loved being a member of her large family and she spoke often about her family history. Tales abounded about Native American influence on home remedies, life during the War, growing up with her siblings, the history of the LaPointe name…there were always many stories.
Family was very important to Lee. Consequently, she was often a caretaker of family members. When a niece or nephew needed daycare or, in some circumstances, live in care, it was likely that Lee would fill the need.
Lee enjoyed the challenge of being a Girl Scout Troop leader for several years. She liked working with young people and taught CCD for a time at St Martin’s parish. She was an excellent seamstress and made lovely knitted wear for her children.
Though she never claimed to enjoy cooking she always had a good hot meal ready for dinner. Perhaps mostly, Lee excelled at being “Memere” to her five grandchildren. She was interested, kind, patient, and generous with her time and energies.
They were always welcome to stay for any amount of time…days or weeks. There were trips to water parks and Canobie Lake. There were sessions at “Camp Memere” during the summer that included pool time, ice cream and lots of playing.
She listened attentively to everything they said and enjoyed hearing the details of their lives. She was happy to have a new audience to listen to her endless stories. Lee was a very good grandmother.
There was a story that Lee liked to tell about her new- born self. She was not thriving, was unable to tolerate milk. Her mother was feeding her water that barley had been boiled in to offer some nutrition, and she was being kept warm by placing her near the oven that was used to raise bread dough.
The family doctor came to visit and told Lee’s mother, “Don’t get too attached to this one, Mrs. LaPointe. She might not make it”. She sure fooled them.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
