Zélie GUERIN was born in 1831 in Gandelain in the Orne department, near St Denis-sur-Sarthon where she was baptised.

Her early religious studies led her to consider taking religious orders but the nuns dissuaded her. So the young Zélie started work, making Point d'Alencon lace by hand.

When she was 26, she met Louis Martin on Saint Léonard bridge in Alençon and felt that God was telling her that this was the man for her

Louis MARTIN was 35 at the time. He was born in 1823 in Bordeaux where his father, a career soldier originally from Normandy, was garrisoned. Having finished his studies, he began to learn the trade of watch making. When Louis was 22, he considered becoming a monk but his lack of Latin held him back. Instead, he decided to open a jeweller's and watch making business on rue du Pont-Neuf in Alencon..

Nef de l'église Notre-Dame

They were married in Notre Dame Church in Alencon on July 13th, 1858.

The Martin family moved to their home in rue Saint Blaise in 1871 and Louis assisted his wife in her lace making business. Even though they worked very hard, they did not neglect family life : they had nine children, four of whom died in infancy.

Zelie worked with great energy until her dying day and she succumbed to cancer in 1877. Following his wife's death, Louis agreed to move to Lisieux for the good of his daughters and they moved closer to his brother-in-law, who worked as a pharmacist there.