Barbara Higgins

Barbara Shepard Higgins

5/12/1920 - 4/7/2015

WORCESTER - Barbara Shepard Higgins of the Briarwood Community passed away peacefully in her home on April 7th, 35 days shy of her 95th birthday.

Her husband of 66 years Merrill Whitney "Bud" Higgins passed away in 2008. She leaves her children, Christopher Shepard Higgins of Worcester, Carolyn "Cally" Higgins Bell and her husband, Kenneth Gregory Bell of Enfield, CT, Jonathan Arthur Higgins of Worcester and Andrew Warren Higgins of Worcester; her grandchildren, Sarah Cristen Higgins of Scranton, PA, Whitney Alexis Kesseli Higgins of Chandler, AZ, Drew Chapman Higgins of Worcester and Matthew Joseph Higgins of Worcester; a sister, Suzanne Shepard Warner of Longmeadow, MA and nieces and nephews. She was born in Worcester, daughter of Warren Stanley and Bernice (Blackmer) Shepard. She attended North High School in Worcester and was a member of Pi Epsilon Sorority Alumnae Association and graduated from Penn Hall in Chambersburg, PA in 1939.

Barbara was a Volunteer Coordinator for the Massachusetts Easter Seal Society based in Worcester. She oversaw Central Massachusetts fund Raising, Special Events, Programs, Public Relations and Volunteers from 1967-1974. Following that she was involved in the Citizen Resource Center in West Boylston, as the Associate Director and Office Manager with responsibilities in Fund Raising, Public Relations, and Volunteers from 1974-1979. She also was immensely proud of International Ceramic Engineering, Worcester, a company started by her and Bud in the basement of their home, now successfully run by their two younger sons.

Barbara also was active in the Junior League of Worcester 1949-1990, where she served as Vice President and Chairman of Several Committees, Edward Street Day Care Center 1964-1967, Corporator and Treasurer, Worcester Area League of Women Voters 1965-1966, Treasurer, Worcester Girls Club 1966-1968, Corporator, Board Member, Camp Committee, Memorial Hospital 1966-1969, High Fever Frolics Co-Chairman, United Way 1967, Chairman, Women's Division Appeal, International Center of Worcester 1967-1968, Finance Chairman, Citizen Plan E Association 1974-1977, Treasurer-Fund Drive, Worcester Children's Friend Society 1977-1981 ,Corporator, Finance Committee, Board of Directors, Assistant Treasurer 1987-1990, United Way 1979, Appeals Committee, Young Women's Christian Association 1980, Finance Committee, Holden Nursing Home 1980, Member of Scholarship Committee, Worcester Garden Club, Treasurer Worcester Horticultural Society 1990, Development Committee, The First Unitarian Church, and served on the Board of Directors for the John Woodman Higgins Armory.

Barbara enjoyed Bridge, Gardening and Golfing as a member of Tatnuck Country Club for years.

Visiting Hours are Thursday, April 16 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm - with a Funeral Service at 5:00PM at Callahan~Fay~ Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street. Burial Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to, Worcester Children's Friend Society, 21 Cedar Street, Worcester, 01609.