1918 – 2013

SOUTH PORTLAND — Rose I. Martin, 95, passed away Thursday, May 30, at her home in South Portland.

She was born on March 17, 1918, the daughter of Antoine and Mary Dubois of Frenchville.

Her long life of 95 years brought her through many different occupations, starting with joining the convent at a very early age but she was unable to take her final vows, which was followed her becoming a mill worker in Lewiston prior to the war. She worked as Rosey the Riveter on the liberty ships in South Portland.

Rose met her husband at the end of World War II and became a devoted wife for 47 years. She lived throughout the state of Maine: Lewiston, Bangor and Saco (motel owner) and finally retiring back to Lewiston. She was a member of the Ladies of Saint Ann Holy Family Parish in Lewiston for many years. She enjoyed many hobbies, from crocheting baptismal baby blankets to traveling, fishing, and bingo, as well as slot machines.

Her final move was to be closer to her family. She moved to Larrabee Village in Westbrook until she finally could not stay by herself and moved in with her son, Evelyn and Evelyn’s sister, Mary Smart. She was a communicant of St. Maximilian Kolbe Church of Scarborough.

She was among 11 children, with a sole surviving sister, Martha Rossignol of Lewiston. She leaves behind one son, Gerard N. Martin and wife, Evelyn J., of South Portland. Even though her family was small, her descendants were many, having six grandchildren, Eric, Michelle, Tad, Tammy M. (deceased), Stephanie and Tabatha, all of South Portland; nine great-grandchildren, Christie-Marie, Cassandra, Alex, Tamara, Alyssa, Mikayla, Nicholas, Ethan and Roselyn; and one great-great-grandson, Ayden.

She was predeceased by her husband, Norman L. of St. Agatha; and son, Herman G. of Lewiston.