Joyce Marie Higgins

HIGGINS Joyce Marie (Dunn), on April 13th, 2013, at home after a long illness, aged 79 years. Widow of the late Charles J. Higgins, Jr. (d. 1979). Beloved mother of Rev. Charles J. Higgins, III, Pastor of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church, Newton, Anne Higgins of Needham, Jonathan and his wife Tracey of Toronto, Ontario, and Peter of Los Angeles, CA, and grandmother of Michael, Lucy, Tara, Jack and Maddie Higgins. Daughter of the late John and Margaret Dunn. Sister of Joel Dunn of Amherst and the late John Dunn, Jr. Sister-in-law of John and Anne Birch of Attleboro, and Robert and Sheila Sullivan of Middletown, RI. Survived by many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends, especially by her dear friends from Regis College, Class of ’56. Born in Pittsfield, MA, she attended St. Mary’s High School in Claremont, NH, Class of ’52. She graduated from Regis College in Weston, 1956. In 1956-57 Joyce taught at St. Anne’s Catholic school in Rockhill, SC, as part of the lay-apostolate program out of Regis. It was the first racially integrated school in the state of South Carolina. She later taught elementary school in Needham at St. Joseph’s parochial school and at the John Eliot School. In 1982, she earned her Masters in Library Science from Simmons College. She worked as the Children’s Librarian for the town of Braintree 1984-87 and then for Belmont from 1987 until her retirement in 2002. In her retirement years she took particular pleasure in gardening and visits from her grandchildren. Funeral from the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Avenue, NEEDHAM, MA, Thursday, April 18th at 9:30 A.M. Mass of Christian Burial at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church, 280 Elliot Street, Newton Upper Falls, at 10:30 A.M., with burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Needham. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours on Wednesday, April 17th, from 2:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Belmont Public Library Children’s Room, 336 Concord Ave, Belmont MA 02478. For obit, directions or to share a memory of Joyce please visit: www.eatonfuneralhomes.com EATON FUNERAL HOME 781-444-0201