With family at her side, Gladys Ann Martin, 81, of Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances.
She was born to Thomas and Myrtle (Wright) Jolicouer on May 18, 1935 in Stratton, Ont. and was a life-long resident of Rainy River District.
As a young woman, Gladys worked for a short time on Great Lake ships and at La Verendrye Hospital as a nurse trainee. She then joined the local Shop-Easy store, where she enjoyed serving customers with a smile.
She often recalled fond memories of those experiences.
On Nov. 23, 1957, Gladys exchanged wedding vows with William “Bill” Martin at the Catholic Church in Stratton, and together they called Fort Frances home for nearly 60 years.
Gladys and Bill eventually settled into their home on Front Street with its distinctive chain fence–a symbol of the Martin family’s heritage as part of the region’s logging industry. Close friends fondly crowned her as “The Queen of Front Street” and she cherished her unique view of the river, especially the beautiful sunsets.
Community service was important and Gladys enjoyed being a member of the Catholic Women’s League and auxiliaries of the Royal Canadian Legion, La Verendrye Hospital, and Rainycrest. She also loved the friendly competition of playing Bridge and actively was involved with many friends in four different Bridge clubs.
Gladys and Bill always were on the move, whether it was for day trips around the district, voyages “up the lake” on the family’s Huk-A-Puk houseboat, or road trips to visit Susan or Billy and their families.
Highlights included Caribbean and Alaskan cruises, as well as a trip to visit Billy and Corinia and the kids in Belgium, which they extended to include several other European countries, including England, where she was able to see where the other Queen lived.
Gladys was very proud of her three children and their families. She is deeply missed by her daughters, Susan (Ron) Gushulak of Cincinnati, Ohio and Diane (Wayne) Krawchuk of Fort Frances, Ont.; son, William (Corinia) of Carleton Place, Ont.; six grandchildren who loved her dearly, including Reagan (Jessica) Gushulak of Cleveland, Ohio, Nathan and Michael Gushulak of Cincinnati, Kaid Krawchuk of Vancouver, B.C., and William and Rebecca Martin of Carleton Place, Ont.; and two precious great-grandchildren, Calvin Neal and Sylvia Frances Gushulak of Cleveland.
She also is survived by her sisters, Eileen Pearson and Shirley (Mike) Zdep of Keewatin, Ont., and Margaret Benjamin of Fort Frances, Ont.; brothers, Armand (Maureen) of Sioux Lookout, Ont. and Allan (Joan) of Barwick, Ont.; and sisters-in-law, Gladys Jolicouer of Stratton, Ont. and Doreen Jolicouer of Keewatin, Ont.
She also will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and friends who always were welcomed to drop over for a cup or two of Bill and Gladys’ famously strong coffee.
Gladys was predeceased by her husband, Bill, on Sept. 22, 2012; her parents, Tom and Myrtle; sister, June (Matt) Hrychuk; brothers, Thomas and Vincent; brothers-in-law, Gordon Pearson, Mervin Benjamin, and Bob (Grace) Locke; sister-in-law, Jane (Fred) Sus; sister-in-law, Pat; and by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, “Captain Billy” and Elsie Martin.
A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances.
Members of her Bridge clubs will serve as honourary pallbearers and her grandchildren will serve as active pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Diabetes Foundation or La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary Fund c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Please join us in remembering Gladys Martin by visiting the family’s online memorial at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com
GLADYS ANN MARTIN
