Madawaska – Theresa (Martin) Lee, 95, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at a Madawaska healthcare facility. She was born in St. Anne, New Brunswick, Canada, on July 14, 1930, the daughter of the late O'Neil and Alma (Cyr) Martin.

Theresa was raised on a farm and, at age 18, moved to Tarrytown, New York, to live with her sister. There, she found employment, learned to speak English, and eventually met her husband, Robert E. Lee. They were married in 1953 and, in 1959, moved to Madawaska with their two children, where they settled and raised their six children.

Theresa was a devout Catholic. Her faith was strong and she prayed her rosary daily. She was a member of the Ladies of St. Anne and always looked forward to trips to St. Anne de Beaupré. She was also a devoted member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Theresa worked at many locations within the community, including the ACAP Office, the Madawaska Library, Acadian Cards, Mill Outlet, and the Tastee Freeze. When she retired at age 80, she remained active through her volunteer work at La Maison Acadienne and St. Thomas Aquinas Church. She was a compassionate, people-oriented woman who found joy in her morning walk, music, dancing, playing cards, picking wild strawberries, and traveling with her children. Above all, she cherished time spent with her family, whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by her six children: Robert (Judi) Lee of Auburn; Susan (Daniel) Desjardins of Madawaska; Mary Lee (Randy) Bickford of New Hampshire; Carol (Jim) Shea of New Hampshire; Donna (Gary) Pelletier of Madawaska; and David (Jan) Lee of Madawaska. She also leaves behind 14 grandchildren: Sarah, Adam, Ben, Carly, Lindsey, Andrew, Alex, Meghan, Ashlee, Jayme, Austin, Evan, Jonathan, and Ian; 18 great-grandchildren; and her siblings Roland, Leonce, and Edmee.

Theresa was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert, in 1985; her precious infant daughter, Linda, in 1954; and her siblings Cyr, Maurice, and Neil Martin, Ghislaine Dube, Betty Hutchings, and Fern Cornell.

The family would like to thank Ridgewood Estates for the compassionate care they provided to Theresa.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Madawaska. Condolences may be offered at the church from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Theresa's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lajoie Funeral Home.