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BORN
1963
DIED
2020
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Huong Higgins Obituary
WORCESTER - Huong Ngo Higgins, a professor at WPI, died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at the age of 56.
Huong is survived by her husband, Read; their children, Annie and Conan; her mother, Cut Vo; and her brothers, Kuong and Pham Ngo.
Huong was born in Saigon, Vietnam on December 5th, 1963 to Kiet Tuan Ngo and Cut Vo. She graduated from the University of Saigon with degrees in English and French in 1990. Huong and her family came over to the US in 1991. She met Read while attending Georgia State University, and they were married in February of 1995. In 1998, after receiving her PhD in Accounting, they moved to Worcester, MA where Huong began her 22-year career as a professor at WPI. Huong's family was the highlight of her life. She was an amazing mother who took great care to prepare her children for life's challenges
She was also an avid gardener. She enjoyed singing and traveling with her family. She also found time to teach herself how to juggle and loved to dance. Huong was a practicing Buddhist and took great comfort in meditating and going to temple. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, students and all who knew her.
A service honoring her life will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 11 a.m. Due to COVID 19 restrictions you are welcome to attend the service virtually by clicking on the following Zoom link: (https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0oc-qpqT0oH9X9MjXaRKthjylcjeFrcwSg). In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation at hhttps://cjdfoundation.org. Arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
www.milesfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Huong Higgins
Sponsored by Miles Funeral Home - Holden.
Dinh Mai
October 8, 2022
Praying Her Soul rest joyfully in Eternal Light
Jinhi Jacobs
April 18, 2021
I am terribly saddened to find the news on the internet this week, 6 months after Huong's passing. My heart is aching for Read, Annie and Conan.
Huong was the sweetest soul I have ever known. She was deeply spiritual, cared about every one in front of her, and loved her family with all her heart. She was the best friend to my husband and me. Thank you, Huong, for your love. I will treasure it forever.
With many loving memories.
Ananya Joshi
November 28, 2020
Although I was just a student in Huong’s class, she was a sunshine to me. I still remember her smile and the way she would explain tough topics so easily to the whole class. Not only was she an excellent teacher, she helped me when I was going through a rough patch. She would reexplain me the topics on days when I felt really low and get me excited about life again. Her dedication, her energy, her passion was so contagious, i got passionate about finance more than ever. And got my internship and job because of the skills I gained in her class. She was the easiest and the happiest person to talk to on campus. I remember the last time we talked outside the library, she looked so happy and asked about my plans after graduation. I always thought I would see her again probably during graduation and get a picture with her. And my wish didn’t come true.
May god give her family the strength. Huong, you will forever live in my heart. As I waved you goodbye on that sunny afternoon outside the library, you sat there smiling calmly. Rest In Peace.
Khanh Truong & Tho Tran
October 21, 2020
Huong was our friend from high school back in Vietnam from 1978-1980. After high school, we fell out of touch for a while but when we reconnected years later, Huong was still the Huong we always knew: kind, honest, intelligent, strong, insightful and understanding, and always thoughtful and respectful of others. She was driven and perservered through every challenge, and loved to learn.
We hoped every day for a miracle for Huong, and our hearts shattered when we heard that she passed away.
Huong is someone we will never, ever forget. We cherish her so much, and we wish her family peace and comfort in this difficult time.
Huong will forever be in our hearts.
---
Hương và chúng tôi là bạn học thời trung học ở Việt Nam những năm 1978 - 1980.
Sau đó chúng tôi xa nhau trong một thời gian dài, và khi gặp lại Hương vẫn là Hương của ngày xưa: dễ thương, tử tế, thông minh, mạnh mẽ, giàu nghị lực, ham học hỏi, luôn thấu hiểu và tôn trọng người khác.
Cầu mong phép màu đến với Hương... nhưng điều đó đã không xảy ra.
Tim chúng tôi đau nhói khi biết cô ấy đã ra đi.
Hương là một người mà chúng tôi không thể nào quên. Chúng tôi rất quý mến cô ấy, và cầu mong những người thân yêu của Hương vượt qua thời gian khó khăn này.
Hương mãi mãi trong tim chúng tôi.
--Khanh Truong & Tho Tran
Christopher Scarpino
October 18, 2020
Huong was one of the nicest people at WPI.
Hien Truong
October 17, 2020
I first met Professor Higgins actually not at WPI as a student but as a waitress when I was working at a Vietnamese Restaurant during my Freshman to Junior years at WPI. She occasionally went to Dalat Restaurant with her son and her daughter. I learned that she was a vegetarian.
I still remember the first day we met at WPI. It was a rainy and windy day, I met her walked to the HL building. We were so excited to see and recognize each other. We started talking about what are we doing at WPI. She told she had been at WPI for almost 20 years; I shared to her my immigrant stories, my school transfer stories and we had been sharing so many others stories during our 15 mins walk together. Since then, we got to see each other occasionally at school. Those are just a few minutes talks but they all are very memorable to me
She asked if I could be a tutor for her son and I got to introduce my friend to her to be her son’s tutor.
I shared her a great place, Pho Hien Temple, where she can buy some great Vietnamese vegetarian food.
One time, I was attracted by the MSOAM and I brought my interest to her and asked for her advice to see if it was a good fit for me and how I could balance work and school at the same time. She had been very helpful and inspiring to me.
I got to become her student in her FIN500 class and got to know her better. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, patience and passion are something I will never forget.
Professor Huong Higgins, you will be greatly missed. Buddha will be with you and with us. Rest in peace!
Your student,
Hien Truong
Survy Bortman
October 17, 2020
Huong, you will be in our heart and prayer.We will always remember you as a dear friend, kindhearted, bright, lovely woman with a beautiful voice - and your passion in music - we will miss your voice ( I remember that you love Let It Go song from Frozen when the last time we visited you) You will be missed.Our prayers and support for your family as well. May strength, peace and comfort will be with them in the midst of this very difficult time.Rest in eternal peace dear friend, in your faith that you hold dearly.
With Love.
Upi/Survy
John Sanbonmatsu
October 17, 2020
Huong was one of the kindest, gentlest people I've ever known in my life--a truly loving soul and a genuine bodhisattva. Even after her diagnosis, Huong expressed her desire to continue working with me and others in the WPI AAUP, out of a sense of personal commitment to our faculty. My heart goes out to Read, Conan, and Annie for the tragic and terribly premature loss of their beloved wife and mother. We will all miss her.
* * *
"All things move and change and are impermanent like clouds;
They may be likened to a flash of lightning.
They are like a dewdrop on a blade of grass...."
-- Buddha
Fabienne Miller
October 17, 2020
Thank you, Huong, for welcoming me at WPI. Thank you for caring and being passionate about teaching, research, and your students. You've made a difference in more ways than one. I'll miss our hallway chats, working with you, and your cheerful presence . Amities and love to your family in these difficult times.
Shuang Chen
October 16, 2020
It's very heartbreaking to hear this news and recall the memory with Professor Higgins.
I was an international student and my first class in America was taught by Prof.Higginis. I admitted on that time I still not so good at English and cannot understand the course's content, but she was very nice and patients to teach me over and over again. After one semester, I became her assistant and helped her with some technical research. She taught me programming with SAS, and lead me to do research with another Professor, I learnt a lot during the research process. She is my mentor and always love to share her feeling and experience on career or research. I will never forget the thanksgiving dinner with her and her family.
Having been working with her for two years, I remembered once she wants to move her favorite table from the home to the office, I first took the table legs to the office and left the table board downstairs. But when I came back and found the table board has been taken by other people. I was looking for this table board for a long time in the campus but find nothing. I so regretted for this thing, but she never blames me and still invites me to have lunch together. I want to sorry again for this thing again.
Too many memory and I only hope she can rest in peace, All the best...
Sondra Kelly
October 16, 2020
As Artistic Director of VOX New England, Huong attended all of our performances. She was a great lover of classical music and was also studying voice. I will miss her shining smile in our audience. Taken from us too early. She will be greatly missed.
Mai Huu Dinh
October 16, 2020
A beautiful soul found her rest in Eternal Light, Buddha bless and take care of her Soul
Erin Wickman
October 16, 2020
I am so sorry for your family's loss. I hope that the memories you made together give some comfort to you at this difficult time.
Erica Stearns
October 14, 2020
Dear Higgins Family- I am so very sorry to hear about your loss. Huong was such a sweet person and always had a smile on her face. Our children attended Flagg Street School together and I would often run into Huong at The Loving Hut. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Erica Stearns and family
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