Leicester - Agnes L (Gelineau) St. Martin, 86, of Cherry Valley and Leicester died after a brief illness on September 6 at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home.
Agnes, born in Worcester on September 1, 1928 to Wilfred and Josephine (Lusignan) Gelineau, was a member of the first graduating class of Holy Name High School in 1946. She then went on to secretarial school. She met Larry St. Martin at a wedding in 1946 and that night they went to a dance together and danced the first of many Polkas. They quickly fell in love and were married in June of ‘47. After raising four children, Agnes began working as a bookkeeper at the main office of White Cleaners in Worcester, where she continued to work for many years. The entire family was active in St. Joseph’s Church in Cherry Valley where they worked tirelessly in raising money to build a school and convent. Agnes and Larry remained active in the church in numerous capacities - even when St. Joseph’s was consolidated with St. Pius X in Leicester. She and Larry also volunteered to assist at the Leicester Senior Center, where Agnes eventually became a part-time employee. She and Larry were recognized by the Governor of Massachusetts for their many years of volunteer service. She was also active in the Senior Citizen Club of Leicester and the Red Hat Society for many years.
Always a person on the go, Agnes enjoyed seeing shows, playing cards, and celebrating special events. She also loved to travel and eat out, and was an expert shopper. One friend always said that, when in an area of small touristy shops, Agnes never passed an open door. She especially loved going to the Cape and to Old Orchard Beach where Larry would metal detect while she strolled along the sand. But, above all, she loved being with her family and friends; whether it was sharing a meal, or a conversation, talking on the telephone, or going on a vacation.
Agnes will be dearly missed by her husband Larry. She will also be greatly missed by her daughter Jeannine Aquino and her husband Phil of Dracut, her daughter Pauline Ramsey and her husband Steve of Spencer, her son Paul and his wife Gloria of Wolfeboro, NH and her son Joe and his wife Jody of Mystic, CT. She will be missed, too, by her 7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers Al and Will Gelineau.
Agnes’s warmth, kindness, and humor will be remembered by all who knew her. She lived a life of love, quickly to pray for so many of us, and to help in more practical, concrete ways, too, whenever she could. Both her generosity and her example as a devoted and caring wife and mother, is one for all of us to aspire to.
The funeral will be held Thursday, Sept. 11 from MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 1131 Main Street, Leicester with a Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Pius X Church, 1153 Main Street, Leicester. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Leicester. Calling hours are Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 4:30-6:30 pm in the funeral home. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Senior Citizen Club of Leicester, 40 Winslow Avenue, Leicester, MA 01524.