SOUTH PORTLAND — Alice Joanne (Lydon) Linehan, 81, of South Portland and formerly of Cape Elizabeth, died Aug. 5 at Seaside Nursing Home in Portland, after a long illness.

Linehan was born Aug. 21, 1932, in Cape Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Alice (Twomey) Lydon. She attended Cottage Farms Elementary School in Cape Elizabeth, and was a 1950 graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy. She then attended Boston City Hospital School of Nursing, earning her nursing degree in 1953.

She married Thomas F. Linehan of Boston on May 22, 1954. The couple initially resided in Boston, but then returned to Maine – first to South Portland, and later to the Cape Elizabeth home her father had built. There, the couple raised their own family of five daughters and three sons.

Linehan was active in her children’s schools and extracurricular activities, and served as a Cub Scout den mother for many years. She was known for her abilities as a seamstress, and sewed holiday outfits for her children, costumes for their theater activities, and her own square-dancing outfits.

She was an excellent dancer, and she and her husband were longtime members of Sunset Squares, traveling throughout southern Maine to attend weekend dances. She also was a talented pianist and a skilled card player, with cribbage being her favorite game.

After beginning her nursing career at Boston City Hospital, Linehan later worked at Maine Medical Center, and then served as director of nursing at several local nursing homes. She also taught classes on the subject of death and dying, and earned honors for this work.

She was an avid reader, puzzle aficionado, and gardener. She loved her family, her dogs and her books. In her retirement, she continued 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.

Linehan was predeceased by her parents, John and Alice, and her brother, John Lydon.

She is survived by her children, Thomas Linehan and wife, Ellen, of Scarborough; Cathy Wiles and husband, Dennis, of Westbrook; Linda Linehan, of Cape Elizabeth; Margaret Bogart and husband, John, of Saco; John Linehan and wife, Rebecca, of Florida; Anne Marie McCoubrey and husband, Mark, of South Portland; Michael Linehan and wife, Dianne, of Scarborough; and Rosemarie Linehan and husband, Eric, of Limington. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia Lydon of Weymouth, Massachusetts; her brother, Lawrence Lydon and wife, Gloria, of South Portland; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Linehan’s family would like to thank the staff at Seaside Nursing Home for the loving care they provided during her final years.

Visiting hours were held Aug. 7, with an Aug. 8 Mass of Christian burial at Holy Cross Church, in South Portland. Burial followed at Old Calvary Cemetery, in South Portland.