Alice Joanne (Lydon) Linehan

SOUTH PORTLAND - Alice Joanne (Lydon) Linehan, 81, of South Portland and formerly of Cape Elizabeth, passed away on August 5, 2014 at Seaside Nursing Home after a long illness. Joanne was born August 21, 1932, in Cape Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Alice (Twomey) Lydon. She attended Cottage Farms Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth; was a 1950 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy and attended Boston City Hospital School of Nursing, earning her nursing degree in 1953. Joanne married Thomas Francis Linehan of Boston on May 22, 1954. They initially resided in Boston, then returned to Maine; first to South Portland and later back to Cape Elizabeth to the home she had grown up in, the home her father John had built after the Great Depression. In that home, Joanne and Tom raised their own family of five daughters and three sons. Joanne was very active in her children's school and extra-curricular activities and was a Cub Scout den mother for many years. She was known for her seamstress abilities, making matching holiday outfits for all the children, making costumes for the children's theater and stage activities, and making her own square dancing outfits. Joanne was an excellent dancer and she and Tom were longtime members of Sunset Squares, travelling all over Southern Maine to attend dances each weekend. The yearly Square Dancing party hosted by Tom and Joanne was a highly anticipated event of the dancing season. She was a skilled musician, proficient at piano, and was also an exceptional card player, with cribbage being her favorite game. Joanne's career as a nurse began at Boston City Hospital. After moving back to Maine, she worked at Maine Medical Center, and later moved to the specialized area of geriatric medicine, working as Director of Nursing at several local nursing homes. She moved into the teaching world, creating and presenting an educational series focused on the sensitive subject of death and dying. These classes were always greatly received and she earned honors for her work. Upon her retirement, Joanne became an avid reader and puzzle aficionado. She also loved gardening and specialized in plant propagation, passing on her many plants to family and friends. Joanne's favorite things she surrounded herself with, were her family, her beloved dogs, and her books. She kept active in her later retirement years by continuing her education, becoming involved in local community organizations, volunteering at the local church, and most recently serving as Secretary on the 1700 Broadway Community Council. Joanne was predeceased by her parents, John and Alice, and her brother John Lydon. She is survived by her children, Thomas Linehan (Ellen) of Scarborough, Cathy Wiles (Dennis) of Westbrook, Linda Linehan of Cape Elizabeth, Margaret Bogart (John) of Saco, John Linehan (Rebecca) of Florida, Anne Marie McCoubrey (Mark) of South Portland, Michael Linehan (Dianne) of Scarborough, and Rosemarie Linehan (Eric) of Limington. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia Lydon of Weymouth, Massachusetts, and her brother, Lawrence Lydon (Gloria) of South Portland, along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff at Seaside Nursing Home for the loving care they provided Joanne during her final years. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, August 7, 2014, at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at 10:15am on Friday, August 8, 2014 followed by an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial will follow at Old Calvary Cemetery 1461 Broadway, South Portland.Online condolences may be expressed below.