Edith A. Beaulieu Obituary (2013) - South Portland, Maine

SOUTH PORTLAND - Edith A. Beaulieu, 76, former Maine State Representative from Munjoy Hill, who resided in South Portland, died June 21, 2013, at her residence with her loving family by her side. Edith was born in Millinocket a daughter of Wilfred and Rose Madore Saucier. In 1950 the family moved from Eagle Lake to Portland. In 1955 Edith graduated from Cathedral High School. In November 1956, Edith married Edgar R. Beaulieu and began to raise a family. Edith worked for 16 years for Guy Gannett Publishing. Edith served in the Maine State House of Representatives for 1976 thru 1986. While in the house she served as House Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and was a committee member for 8 years. Edith sponsored over 50 bills that are now law. Examples of her work in the House included: smoke detector laws for hotels, motels, and apartments; speedy demolition of unsafe buildings; computerization of the Workers Compensation Board and several laws on Workers Compensation and Unemployment Compensation; sponsored a bill to provide $8 million and $13 million bond issue for Vocational Technical Institutes; discount Worker's Compensation policies for small business owners. Edith's other civic works included: a former member of the Portland Schools Committee; a member of the Portland Library and Portland Regional School Building Committee; a founder and chair of the Portland School Safety Committee; wrote a column for the Portland Evening Express for 7 years "Parents-Teachers in Action"; only women serve on Maine's Advisory Committee on Firefighter Education and Training; was listed in "Who's Who of American Women" "Who's Who in Politics" and "The World's Who's Who of Women". Edith was predeceased by her husband in 2009; an infant daughter Debra M. Beaulieu in 1958; brother Frederick Saucier in 1974; and son-in-law Jeff Punsky in 2012. Survivors include four children, Cynthia A. Lovejoy and husband David of Windham, Susan M O'Carroll and husband Daniel of South Portland, Edgar R. Beaulieu, Jr. and wife Paula of Portland, Kathleen Punksy of South Portland; four brothers, Bernard Boucher of Saco, Norman Boucher and wife Phyllis of North Carolina, Paul Saucier and wife Mary of Portland, Steve Saucier of Florida; 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. The family of Edith would like to thank the nurses and staff of Southern Maine Hospice especially Cindy, C.C., Mary, Lisa and Cindy the R.N. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation at 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A eulogy of Edith's life will be presented from 5-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Animal Refuge League, P.O. Box 336, Westbrook, Maine 04098.Online condolences may be expressed below.