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Lauren Higgins
1962 - 2020
Lauren Higgins
1962 - 2020
Obituary
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BORN
1962
DIED
2020
Lauren Higgins Obituary
WORCESTER - Lauren L. Higgins, 58 of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 26, 2020 at UMass Medical Center after a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Lauren was born on March 11, 1962 in Torrance, California. She grew up in Worcester where she graduated from Burncoat High School and later earned her nursing degree from Quinsigamond Community College. She loved being a nurse and worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Oriol Healthcare, Holden, for 17 years. Lauren was also a certified EMT. A veteran of the United States Navy, Lauren proudly served her country for six years. When she was not doting on her grandchildren, Lauren enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, making jewelry, traveling to the beach, watching sports especially football, and time in her backyard with her family and friends.
Lauren is survived by her partner of 27 years, Elizabeth Hawkins; her son, Lee Higgins of Conroe, TX; her daughter, Bari Higgins of Worcester; her mother and stepfather, Marjorie (Chapman) and Joseph Francese of Worcester; four grandchildren, Vivian Higgins, Thaddeus Morrison, Annabelle Higgins and Elizabeth Higgins; three brothers, Joseph Francese and his wife Erika of Holden, Scott Higgins and his wife Michelle of Grand Junction, CO.; and Ryan Higgins and his wife Emily of South Yarmouth; five sisters, Katy Donahue, Leah Francese-Wood and her husband Frank, and Emily Thomas all of Worcester and Lindsey Meyer and her husband Adam of Warrensburg, MO; Kim Francese-Conolly; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins; and her beloved dogs, Atlas and Libby. She is predeceased by her father, Curt Higgins of Harwich.
A period of calling hours will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 4-6 pm with her funeral service immediately following at 6 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Lung Cancer Research Foundation, 155 East 55th Street, Suite 6H, New York, NY 10022.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Cindy Eldredge
July 23, 2023
Seems like yesterday you passed away yet it's been three years! No one never forget you Lauren! God bless you!
Cynthia Freeman
July 30, 2020
Elizabeth
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
Heidi
July 30, 2020
To add to my other list of wonderful memories of Lauren;
She loved to get all dressed up with lots of bling (often times wearing some of her own designed beaded inspirations). I would plead with her to make copies for me too and she would smile and happily oblige, proud of her work. She always looked dazzling! Someone shared in their memories that she sparkled. A most precise description. We would go out to some of the many venues on The Cape and listen to music and dance or sit along the beach in the evening, enjoying a drink and savoring some of the delectable entrees at Chatham Bars Inn (scallops being her favorite) and talking and laughing endlessly into the night about everything, which we did often when she would come down and spend weekends with me. She always spoke of her best friend Holly with deep love and adulation in our conversations as well and I felt a kin ship to her even though i only met her on several occasions.
Lauren had a way of rebounding from life’s difficulties and persevering through adverse situations and finding love to be her guiding strength from those closest to her. We are blessed to have had each other and be a part of her life.
Lauren truly was the closest thing i ever had to a sister and I will never stop missing her..
I love you to the beach and beyond Lauren ‘beach rose”
Joseph Fellows
July 30, 2020
Deeply sorry for the loss in your family...thoughts and prayers with all of you during these tough times.
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Heidi
July 29, 2020
The Lauren that I knew was a lot of things.
She was complex and multi faceted but anyone who knew her could not deny that one thing she was not, was subtle. If she was mad, you knew it. She didn’t mince words and if you were someone she loved and cared for she was also fiercely loyal.
Lauren was 8 years older than me but I was always so excited to see her when she would come down to the Cape every summer and on holidays to spend time, visit and be with her father (my uncle) whom she adored and our beloved Nanny.
My brothers and I always looked up to her. She was so cool and had such a sense of style and flare and she always had the best clothes. She loooved clothes! She was so creative and artistic and pretty and I was just so proud to be her cousin. She seemed to be in our lives often and my mother and brothers and I adored her but it wasn’t until
I got older that we got closer and shared our lives and hearts and secrets more maturely. I was so happy when I was getting married and she came to my wedding with Katy that I spent nearly half the reception solely talking to Katy and dancing with Lauren as
It had been some years In between since I had seen either of them.
One of Lauren’s favorite places to be besides her own home taking care of her family was on Cape Cod at our grandparents 3 home Cape estate built by our grandfather Isaiah in West Harwich when we were younger and then later coming to visit and stay with me on The Cape at my home on weekends. It was wonderful spending time with her. She was a free spirit. She loved to listen to music and dance and sing. As unabashed as a child she would throw her arms to the sky, eyes closed and twirl herself around, free as the wind..
She was also solemn at times and emotional. Never afraid to cry if the mood struck. She would just let the tears come.
She loved shopping and even more so she loved a good bargain! She was interested in photography (Just like her father) and had an eye for nature and capturing the true beauty it possessed as well as truth of candid photos. Her granddaughter Vivienne, being one of her best subjects.
She also loved everything Cape Cod and spending her days on its sandy shores. Pleasant St. Beach and Bank St. Beach were her favorites, where as children she, Scott and Katy and my brothers and our parents spent many summers together body surfing, exploring the beach, digging for sand crabs and baking in the sun all day.. And beach roses.. An all time favorite of hers.. So much so, that whenever I see a beach rose, I cannot think of anyone or anything but her..
But Lauren’s most favorite thing of all was her family. Raising her children Lee and Bari and taking care of her grandchildren and Biz/Elizabeth, was everything to her. The sun rose and set on Vivienne, until Thaddeus came along and then she had to share the spotlight with a new heartbreaker whom Lauren adoringly doted on as well. They were her beating heart. She would stop in her tracks and answer her phone immediately whenever they called no matter where we were when she was visiting. She would start her mornings counseling with Bari and Biz/Elizabeth over the phone and she would not be able to move forward with our weekend plans until she did that. She simply felt like half a person without them.
Her sister Katy was also her rock and her best friend and she would check in and council with her every single day as well, especially after the loss of their father. They became a great source of strength for each other at that very difficult time.
Lauren loved and adored her animals Atlas and Libby, who also gave her so much joy, comfort and companionship through the years. She would just turn to mush around them, even through she would pretend to be exasperated with their dog dysfunction at times..
Lauren, I hope that you are dancing in the arms of you Maker now, your arms stretched high above you, eyes closed, and twirling.. free as the wind..
Love Everlasting,
Heidi
Patricia Ryan/SanClemente
July 29, 2020
I’ll always remember my number one study partner and friend, during our nursing school years. My condolences to Elizabeth, Lee, Bari and Lauren’s family.
Sincerely Pat
Shirley
July 29, 2020
Liz and Bari I'm so sorry for your loss may she rest in peace
Cindy & John Eldredge
July 29, 2020
Sending our sincere sympathy to Lauren's family! May sweet memories ease the pain of your loss! Prayers & Hugs!
Karen Alvino
July 29, 2020
Elizabeth, so sorry for your loss, as well as the rest of the family . ❤
Michael Mercier
July 29, 2020
You were and remain one of the most remarkable, Loving, and Unique Individuals I have been Blessed too Know... You taught me so much and I Love You.
-Michael
Fawn Iannitelli
July 29, 2020
Bari, I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mother. May your wonderful memories carry you and your family through this difficult time in your lives.God bless kind regards, Fawn
Dennis
July 28, 2020
Keep on sparkling up there beautiful Lauren
Kim Connolly
July 28, 2020
My heart breaks for my family, and I wish that I could be there with you during this time of grief. May Lauren rest in peace. Kim, Brandon and Kyle
Bob Liberatore
July 28, 2020
Emily - I’m very sorry to hear about your sisters passing. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. Bob
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