Cornelia "Connie" Martineau

H. Cornelia “Connie” Martineau, 100 of Devils Lake formerly of Pembina, ND died on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at her home in Devils Lake in the loving care of Doreen and Dave Gibbons and Mercy Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial for Connie will be held on Friday, February 13, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. Robert Pecotte will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in the spring in the Pembina Cemetery, Pembina. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday, (today) from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers for Connie will be Rodger Sanders, Brandon Degroat, Valerie Sanders, Dave Gibbons, Todd Trudel and Rick Trudel. Reading the Sacred Scriptures and Gift Bearers will be Linda Devroy and Todd Trudel Music will be provided by JoDee Lagein On March 31, 1908, Hulda Cornelia was born to Patrick J. and Hulda O. (Anderson) Martineau in their sod house in Brule County, South Dakota. At age 2, the family moved to Leroy, ND where her folks were engaged in dairy and grain farming. In 1918, the family moved to the Pembina vicinity. Cornelia received her elementary education in District 9 School, Carlisle. She graduated from Pembina High School in 1927. Connie earned her elementary teacher’s certificate from Valley City Teacher’s College and her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of North Dakota. Cornelia taught in one room country schools for several years and elementary education grades in city schools in Aberdeen, South Dakota for fifteen years. She was head of the Department of Education for the College of Great Falls in Montana for seventeen years. Cornelia did extensive traveling and on a trip to Italy had an audience with the Pope. After retirement, she moved to Pembina where she remained until the age of 92, then she moved to Devils Lake to be nearer to her family. Connie was a former member of Assumption Catholic Church in Pembina and since moving to Devils Lake a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Of notable history; Cornelia’s maternal grandfather, Carl Anderson died aboard the Titanic and her paternal grandfather, Andrew Martineau was the very first person to carry mail between Pembina and the Twin Cities. The very dangerous task was done by dogsled and horseback twice a year. Left to mourn her loss is her dear sister, Cecelia Trudel of Devils Lake and several nieces and nephews and their families. Brother-in-law: Gordon Sanders of Frazee, MN She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother and brother and sister-in-law, Lawson and Elizabeth Martineau; sisters and brothers-in-law, Otellia and Ben Joasten of Lincoln, Nebraska, Goldie and Geo Defoe of Pembina; Bernice Sanders of Frazee and John Trudel; nephews, Melvin Trudel and Charles Defoe;