Mathilda Martel

Mathilda "Tillie" Martel, 98, of Titusville, Florida and Sanford, Maine died in Titusville on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, five days shy of her 99th birthday.Tillie was born in Stoke, Quebec on April 15, 1920 to Arthur and Alice (Guillemette) Plante. Her family moved to the United States when she was a young child, eventually settling in Sanford. In 1940 she married Conrad Martel and together they raised three children and shared 46 years of marriage until his death in 1986. During her working life she was employed in the local mills and shoe shops.Tillie lived her life to the fullest. She always kept herself busy with something and never found time to be bored. She enjoyed cooking, baking, crocheting, knitting, sewing and playing cards. During the Christmas season she would lovingly fill tins of different types of fudge and confections that she made to give to her family and friends. She was a devout Catholic and had been a communicant of St. Therse of Lisieux Parish and a member of the Ladies of St. Anne. Tillie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She had a knack for making whoever she was talking to feel like they were the most important person in the world and that they had her undivided attention. She will be dearly missed. Tillie was predeceased by her husband, Conrad Martel; her son, Arthur "Marty" Martel; her granddaughter, Judy Faye and by four siblings, Liza Hanson, Jean Fournier, Joseph Plante and Oliver Plante.Surviving are two children, Claire Polcaro and her husband Frank of Titusville, Florida and Raymond Martel and his wife Edwina of Springvale; 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 21 great-great grandchildren; three siblings, Theresa Hilton of Florida, Lucille Hilton of Sanford and Pauline Barr and her husband Dana of Sanford and many nieces and nephews.Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 16th at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home located at 29 Winter Street in Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 17th at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, located on North Avenue in Sanford. Interment will be at a later date at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Sanford.The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of the Hospice of St. Francis Foundation for the care and compassion shown to Tillie and her family during her period of declining health.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a memorial contribution to Hospice of St. Francis Foundation, 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, Florida 32780.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.