iN  Tribute

      Helen Marie (Gately) Higgins, 88

HAVERHILL, MA

Helen Marie (Gately) Higgins, 88, formerly of Bradford, died Friday, January 1, 2010 at the Baker-Katz Nursing Home after a two year struggle with declining health.

Born in Haverhill, she was the daughter of the late, Charles W. and Alice M. (Dewhirst) Gately. She was a Graduate of St. James High School, Class of 1939 and furthered her education at Westbrook Junior College in Portland, Maine, majoring in Retail Management/ Interior Design. She was employed as a billing administrator for the former Haverhill Electric Co, and Unity Shoe Company. In 1945 she married her husband, the late Frank M. Higgins with whom she shared fifty-eight years of marriage until his death in 2003.

In addition to being a homemaker, wife, and mother, she was involved with equestrian sports, and enjoyed a round of golf, whether it was at Crystal Springs or Bradford Country Club where she held title to Ladies Club Champion. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, and Catholic Daughters of the America’s Court Sacred Hearts #864.

She leaves two sons, Timothy J. Higgins and his wife Jane, of Salem, NH, William C. Higgins and his wife Victoria, of Newton, NH, a daughter, Patricia M. McClure and her husband Michael, of Eagle, CO, grandchildren, Jennifer and Ryan Higgins, two Brothers, Edward L. Gately and his wife, “Gigi”, of Groveland, Richard M. Gately and his wife Claire, of Rye, NH, a sister M. Nona Beauvais and her husband Edward, of Naples FL, and Sandown, NH, and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Leonard Gately, George Gately, Jack Gately, Alice Gately-Gillan and Ann Teoli.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 5, at 11:00 AM in St. John the Baptist Church, 140 Lincoln Ave. Haverhill. Burial will follow at Elmwood cemetery, Salem St. Bradford. An hour of visitation will precede her funeral on Tuesday morning, at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (Rte 125) Haverhill, from 9:30 until 10:30, friends and family respectfully invited. www.comeaufuneral.com.

Directions to Kevin Comeau Funeral Home