Local
Obituary: Father Laurier “Larry” Martineau, former pastor in Lynn
By Father Robert M. O’Grady
Posted: 4/16/2010
Father Laurier J. Martineau Pilot photo
Bishop Francis X Irwin, former auxiliary of the archdiocese was the principal celebrant and Father Louis Bourgeois, pastor of St. Paul Parish in Hamilton was the homilist at the funeral Mass of Father Laurier J. Martineau on April 10 at St. Anne Church, Salem. The former pastor of St. Jean Baptiste Parish in Lynn died at Regina Cleri, Boston on April 7. He had celebrated his 77th birthday on March 24.
A son of St. Joseph Parish in Salem, his parents the late Henry and Irene (Marquis) Martineau raised a large family in the “Witch City.” He attended Assumption College in Canada and completed his seminary formation at St. John’s, Brighton. Cardinal Cushing ordained him to the priesthood on Feb. 2, 1959 at Holy Cross Cathedral. He was named an assistant at Sacred Heart (French) Parish in Brockton where he served until 1965. Until he was named pastor of St. Jean Baptiste in Lynn by Cardinal Law on July 1, 1985 he was an assistant or associate at a series of French national parishes across the archdiocese: St. Jean l’Evangeliste, Newton (1965-1969); St. Mary, Marlborough (1969-1970); St. Joseph, Waltham (1970-1982) and St. Jean Baptiste, Lynn (1982-1985). He was pastor at the Lynn parish until 1992 when he was named parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist in Winthrop; and in 1996 he was named administrator of St. Charles Borromeo, Waltham. He returned to Marlborough when he was named pastor at St. Mary Parish there in 1996. Archbishop O’Malley granted him senior priest/retirement status on Feb. 28, 2004; at that time he moved to Carmel Terrace in Framingham. Just a short time ago he moved to Regina Cleri.
Father Jonathan Gaspar, secretary to Cardinal O’Malley, one of the concelebrants at Father Matineau’s funeral Mass said “Father Larry was a great example of a parish priest who gave his entire life to save souls. He had a tremendous pastoral love and concern for young people. He was extremely generous to the poor and to those in need. He was attentive to the needs of new immigrants and welcomed them with warmth and pastoral solicitude. He was a man of deep prayer and communion with the Lord. He will be sorely missed by his brother priests and by all those who came to know him as a loving shepherd and friend.’’ Among other concelebrants were Father James Canniff, Immaculate Conception, Malden; Father Thomas Fleming, Regina Cleri, Boston; and Father Lawrence Rondeau, St. James, Salem.
Father Martineau’s siblings Henry, Maurice, Bernard, Jean-Guy, Jean-Claude, and Jeanine Francis, all of Salem; Annette O’Brien of Wellesley and Mary Brien of Billerica, and Sister Irene Martineau, SASV of Dracut are his immediate survivors. Following the funeral Mass Father Martineau was buried in St. Mary Cemetery, Salem
