Obituary for Jean Maintain Higgins
Jean M. Higgins
Jean Maintain Higgins, age 89, of Winchester, MA, passed away on February 24, 2019 after a happy and purposeful life. Born in Cambridge, MA, she was the daughter of the late Gertrude (Hunter) and Russell E. Maintain. Raised in Newtonville, MA, Jean graduated from Newton High School in 1947. She received a BA in Home Economics in 1951 from Middlebury College, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. At Middlebury, Jean met Edward Higgins and they were married September 6, 1952. As a young woman, she worked as a secretary for Maintain Store Engineering, Inc., her father’s design and manufacturing company in Woburn, MA. Jean and Ed moved to Winchester in 1962 to raise their young family of three daughters.
Gracious, kind and generous, Jean found joy in creating a warm and inviting home environment for family and friends. She was an active member of The Winton Club, En Ka Society and a Winchester Hospital volunteer. Jean was a loyal friend. She and Ed stayed very involved with Middlebury alumni, serving for a time as Class Secretaries. They cherished their relationships with lifelong friends. Jean planned many memorable trips, traveling with friends and family both cross country and abroad. Locally, she and her family enjoyed skiing with the Winchester Schussmeisters and being members of the Winchester Boat Club. Her ancestral home, the Hunter Farm, in New Braintree, MA, was a favorite location for family gatherings throughout her lifetime and she relished her connection with her many Hunter cousins.
Jean was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, cousin, aunt, sister-in-law and friend. She is survived by Edward William Higgins, her husband of 66 years, her three daughters - Nancy Berke and her husband Bruce, of Bow, NH; Susan Leonard and her husband Gregory, of Brunswick, ME; Carol Palumbo and her husband Vincent, of Kingston, NH; 10 adored grandchildren: Edward and Hunter; Emily, Bradford and Peter; Diana, James, Melissa, Steven and Robert; and 5 great-grandchildren: Gusto, Halcyon, Avery Jean, Eliza, and Finn, plus many nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by an infant brother, Russell Edward “Rusty” Maintain.
A Memorial Service celebrating Jean’s life will be held at First Congregational Church, 21 Church St., Winchester on Sunday, May 12th at 2pm. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions for Jean Higgins may be sent to a charity of choice or Winchester Hospital, c/o Philanthropy, 41 Highland Ave, Winchester, MA 01890. You may also donate online at support.laheyhealth.org/WINgive
For online condolences, please visit www.lanefuneral.com. Arrangements under the direction of the Lane Funeral Home, Winchester, 781.729.2580.
Jean Maintain Higgins, age 89, of Winchester, MA, passed away on February 24, 2019 after a happy and purposeful life. Born in Cambridge, MA, she was the daughter of the late Gertrude (Hunter) and Russell E. Maintain. Raised in Newtonville, MA, Jean graduated from Newton High School in 1947. She received a BA in Home Economics in 1951 from Middlebury College, where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. At Middlebury, Jean met Edward Higgins and they were married September 6, 1952. As a young woman, she worked as a secretary for Maintain Store Engineering, Inc., her father’s design and manufacturing company in Woburn, MA. Jean and Ed moved to Winchester in 1962 to raise their young family of three daughters.
Gracious, kind and generous, Jean found joy in creating a warm and inviting home environment for family and friends. She was an active member of The Winton Club, En Ka Society and a Winchester Hospital volunteer. Jean was a loyal friend. She and Ed stayed very involved with Middlebury alumni, serving for a time as Class Secretaries. They cherished their relationships with lifelong friends. Jean planned many memorable trips, traveling with friends and family both cross country and abroad. Locally, she and her family enjoyed skiing with the Winchester Schussmeisters and being members of the Winchester Boat Club. Her ancestral home, the Hunter Farm, in New Braintree, MA, was a favorite location for family gatherings throughout her lifetime and she relished her connection with her many Hunter cousins.
Jean was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, cousin, aunt, sister-in-law and friend. She is survived by Edward William Higgins, her husband of 66 years, her three daughters - Nancy Berke and her husband Bruce, of Bow, NH; Susan Leonard and her husband Gregory, of Brunswick, ME; Carol Palumbo and her husband Vincent, of Kingston, NH; 10 adored grandchildren: Edward and Hunter; Emily, Bradford and Peter; Diana, James, Melissa, Steven and Robert; and 5 great-grandchildren: Gusto, Halcyon, Avery Jean, Eliza, and Finn, plus many nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by an infant brother, Russell Edward “Rusty” Maintain.
A Memorial Service celebrating Jean’s life will be held at First Congregational Church, 21 Church St., Winchester on Sunday, May 12th at 2pm. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions for Jean Higgins may be sent to a charity of choice or Winchester Hospital, c/o Philanthropy, 41 Highland Ave, Winchester, MA 01890. You may also donate online at support.laheyhealth.org/WINgive
For online condolences, please visit www.lanefuneral.com. Arrangements under the direction of the Lane Funeral Home, Winchester, 781.729.2580.