SOUTH PORTLAND — Edith A. Beaulieu, 76, of South Portland, died June 21 at her home, with her family by her side. 

Beaulieu was born in Millinocket, a daughter of Wilfred and Rose Madore Saucier. In 1950 the family moved from Eagle Lake to Portland. In 1955, she graduated from Cathedral High School.

In November 1956, she married Edgar R. Beaulieu and began to raise a family. She also worked for 16 years with Guy Gannett Publishing.

Beaulieu served in the state House of Representatives from 1976 through 1986. While in the Legislature, she served as chairwoman of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and was a committee member for eight years. Beaulieu sponsored over 50 bills that are now law. Examples of her work in the House include legislation regarding the use of smoke detectors in hotels and apartments; the speedy demolition of unsafe buildings; and funding for vocational-technical schools.

Her other civic works include serving as a member of the Portland School Board; helping to found and chair the Portland School Safety Committee; and being the only women to serve on Maine Advisory Committee on Firefighter Education and Training. Beaulieu is listed in “Who’s Who of American Women,” “Who’s Who in Politics” and “The World’s Who’s Who of Women.”

She  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, and 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, and Steve Saucier of Florida; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Her family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Southern Maine Hospice especially Cindy, C.C., Mary, Lisa and Cindy the R.N.

A eulogy of Beaulieu’s life was held Tuesday at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland.