HILDA MARIE (BARRY) HIGGINS

BANGOR – Hilda Marie (Barry) Higgins, 82, wife of Leo J. Higgins Sr., died peacefully May 2, 2009, surrounded by her loving family at home. She was born May 8, 1926, in Bangor, the daughter of Frank and Irene Agnes (Brideau) Barry. Hilda attended St. John’s Catholic School and John Bapst High School. She had a deep faith in God and her Catholic religion. Hilda had a deep passion for her family and all that she loved and believed in. She also had a loving and generous heart. She enjoyed life’s moments to the fullest making sure to leave many great memories to anyone and all that knew her. Hilda gave endlessly of herself throughout her time on God’s Earth. She volunteered for many years at St. Mary’s School when her own children were young and supported many fundraising events for the school through her involvement in St. Mary’s School “Coffee Party Performances,” school fairs and the parent teacher organization. She was active for many years as a member of the John Bapst High School Quarterback Club, supporting the needs of the school and athletic teams whenever called upon to do so. She was instrumental in efforts to keep John Bapst High School open as a Catholic high school when the dioceses had to close it in 1980; she led a committee working to keep it open as a Catholic high school. She even called the Vatican in Rome to discuss this decision with the Pope. Hilda worked for a short time at Viner Shoe Factory, Hancock Street, after high school before meeting and marrying the love of her life, Leo J. Higgins Sr., and raising a family of 13 children. She was the president of the United Cerebral Palsy Auxiliary for many years and led fundraising efforts for children and families affected by cerebral palsy. She was a member of Maine Central Railroad Auxiliary for more than 30 years. Being the wife of a railroad engineer, she enjoyed working for this organization because it gave her great pride to help raise funds and scholarships for charities and individuals in need. Hilda also took great pride in her country and felt humbled with her civic duty to serve as an election clerk for local voting polls in Bangor for many years. Hilda was a matriarch for her family of 13 children. She loved to spend time with her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved to sing and dance, and talked of once sharing the dance floor with Fred Astaire as a young girl attending a ballroom dance with her family. Once her children were grown, Hilda realized her talent for artistry and painted many oil paintings of nature, her children and grandchildren. Hilda especially loved spending time at her camp on Beech Hill Pond and going for rides on the lake on her party boat. Hilda was able to get her wish to go for one last “party boat” ride on the Penobscot River this past week with her family. Hilda is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Leo J. Higgins Sr. of Bangor; her daughter-in-law, Lucy Higgins and grandson, James, of Bangor; son, Barry Higgins and fiancee, Nancy Miller, of Connecticut, and grandchildren, Nick, Carissa, David, Keri, Angela and Sara; son, Richard Higgins and wife, Gale, of Pittsburg, Calif., and granddaughter, Leanna; daughter, Irene Higgins of Bradley; daughter, Cynthia Prescott and husband, David, of Newburgh and granddaughters, Theresa and Jaime; daughter, Cheryl Higgins of Bangor; daughter, Patricia Delong and husband, Ross, of Orrington and grandchildren, Christie, Brad and Adam; daughter, Tammie Higgins and her partner, Sherri Brackett, of Bowdoinham; son, Mark Higgins and wife, Pauline, of Bangor and granddaughters, Ashley, Rachel and Madison; son, John Higgins and wife, Kristy, of Glenburn and grandsons, J.J. and Wilson; son, Tim Higgins and wife, Kristine, of Glenburn and granddaughters, Emily and Katherine; son, Peter Higgins and fiancee, Denise D’Amboise, of Bangor and granddaughter, Morgan; daughter, Jackie Ireland and husband, Lew, of Brewer and grandchildren, Alexis and Garrett; 10 great-grandchildren; and special friends, Tammie Thayer and Bob Cadorette. Hilda was predeceased by her son, Leo J. Higgins Jr., Feb. 10, 1999. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by her family, many close friends and relatives. Friends may call 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St., Bangor. Interment will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. Gifts in Hilda’s memory may be made to the Leo J. Higgins Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Mel MacKay, John Bapst Memorial High School, 100 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401.