Obituary of Mary Lou Martineau

Mary Lou Martineau
August 21, 1937 – May 2, 2022

It is in gratitude for her life of 84 years that the family of Mary Lou Martineau announces her death in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Monday, May 2nd, 2022.

Mary Lou Carter was born at 9:15 am on Saturday, August 21st, 1937, in Regina Saskatchewan to Frances Carter (nee Kaufmann) and Reginald Carter. Younger sister to Robert Carter, Mary Lou spent her childhood at 2356 Montague Street – attending Connaught School and Central Collegiate – with many happy summers at Katepwa Lake in the Qu’Appelle Valley.

Moving to Saskatoon in 1955 to attend the University of Saskatchewan, she majored in Psychology (and good times) – graduating in 1959 and joining the Saskatchewan Department of Welfare as a Social Worker.

Mary Lou continued to be a Social Worker – even years after leaving the Department to care for her family. A loving, supportive wife and partner to Raymond Martineau, a devoted daughter and daughter-in-law to Adrienne Martineau (nee Ranger), a patient, loving mother to Suzanne (David Kolata) and Luanne Martineau (Matt Stiegemeyer), dear sister-in-law to Lorraine Kroeker (nee Martineau), and a caring Auntie and friend. 

Mary Lou’s humor and warmth drew people to her and created a sense of belonging – whether driving down 8th Street in her 1980 Honda Civic with boisterous kids in tow, volunteering with the Allergy Foundation of Canada, bowling with the Fireballs every Wednesday, playing with her golf and Mahjong pals, connecting for coffee and walks with her aquacise buddies, or simply by opening her mind, heart, and home to friends. 

Spending time with Mary Lou made us all feel safe, seen, heard, and loved. She was our home, she was our heart. And we were very, very lucky to have her.

Our family would like to acknowledge the friends and neighbours who have shown up for us these past four months, the competent and kind palliative care teams with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and St. Paul’s Hospital, and Drs. Jamil Sawaya and Mick Jutras of Lakeside Medical Clinic. In lieu of flowers, donations to Diabetes Canada would be appreciated.

We will celebrate Mary Lou this summer, and in our hearts, always.