PORTLAND — Ruth Arlene Shea, 83, formerly of Portland, died on Aug. 1, 2011, at Coastal Manor in Yarmouth.

She was born in Vanceboro, the daughter of Alfred Joseph and Christine A. (nee Pine) LaCrosse. She attended Bangor High School.

Ruth moved a number of times due to the Navy career of her husband, William Andrew Shea Sr. She worked for six years as an instrument technician at Maine Medical Center. She was a former communicant of St. Dominic’s Church. She was a member of the Legion of Mary in Portland and in Rhode Island. She worked in the Model Cities Program in the 1960s. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Paul Malia Post.

Ruth especially enjoyed being with family and friends as well as cooking.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband, William A. Shea Sr. in 2003; two daughters, Joanne Marsh Shea in 1996 and Marion Rose Shea in 2009; and a sister, Pearl A. Cohen.

She is survived by three daughters, Patricia Rodney of Windham, Marcie Jacob of Colorado and Carol Lynn Dodd of Colorado; six sons, William Shea Jr. of South Portland, Daniel C. Shea of Sebago, Stephen M. Shea of Portland, John A. Shea of Portland, Michael F. Shea of Saco and James G. Shea of North Yarmouth; a sister, Joanne Catir of Jacksonville, Fla.; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Prayers will be said on Friday at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 1342 Congress Street, Portland. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Online condolences may be expressed at: www.ctcrawford.com

For those desiring, memorial donations may be made in Ruth’s name to: The American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074 or to The Monastery of the Precious Blood, 166 State Street, Portland, ME 04101.