Alice Ward Regan

PORTLAND and SOUTH PASADENA, CA - Alice Ward Regan, 89, died on March 19, 2013. She was born in Portland on January 14, 1924, the daughter of Sargent John J. Ward of the Portland Police Department and Alice V. (Gallant) Ward. Alice grew up in the Portland area and graduated from St. Joseph's Academy at the top of her class. She then went on to receive her bachelor's degree in Languages with high honors from St. Joseph's College. On July 3, 1948 she married Francis John Regan. Alice taught English, Latin and French at Richmond High School for a year before becoming a periodical supervisor at the Portland Public Library. She eventually retired from the library after 25 years of dedicated service. She was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in Portland, and participated in their Woman's Council. She was also involved in the Maine Library Association and the Maine State Retirement System. Along with her friend and sister-in-law Mary Gallant Regan, Alice worked the polls in her Libbeytown precinct and was a loyal member of the Democratic Party, making sure to vote in the November 2012 Presidential election and encouraging her nurses and doctors to do so as well. Alice bravely battled multiple sclerosis for over forty years and finally succumbed to pneumonia after a prolonged fight. In addition to her parents, her beloved husband of 52 years, Frank and brothers John and Donald Ward predeceased Alice. She is survived by her three daughters, Suzanne Regan and husband Beryl Bellman of South Pasadena, CA, Kathleen Regan and husband David Foster of Palm Coast, Florida, and Arleen Wescott and husband Dana of Standish; son, Charles Patrick Regan and wife Debra of Thousand Oaks, CA; two dearly loved sisters, Joan Rigazio of Rochester, NH, and Mary DiPietrantonio of Westbrook; sister-in-law Mary Regan; six adored grandchildren, Kate Regan Jenkins Barnabe and husband Stephen, Meg Thayer Jenkins, Daniel Frank Jenkins, Elias John Shamos, Andrew Michael Shamos and wife Ashley, Sarah Alice Regan Bellman; two step grandchildren, Mara Gold and Che Bellman and two great grandchildren; Cooper Daniel Barnabe and Ruby Mae Shamos. Visiting hours will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Monday, March 25 at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be recited at 9:15 am, Tuesday at the funeral home, followed by a 10 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress St., Portland. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.Online condolences may be expressed below.