Teresa Murray Higgins

HIGGINS, MURRAY, CARR, MCCABE, DYER

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 7/16/2006 at 16:41:46

Winterset Madisonian
1962

TERESA E. HIGGINS DIES AT 86 YEARS

Mother of Winterset Pastor In Ill Health During Recent Months

Mrs. Teresa E. Higgins of Winterset died Tuesday, May 29 at a Des Moines hospital, after an extended period of failing health. She was 86 years of age.

Mrs. Higgins had been a resident of Winterset the last seven years, making her home here with her son, the V. Rev. Msgr. John W. Higgins, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic church.

She was a native of Ireland, where she was born at Bellina in County, Mayo, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Murray. She came to the United States with her parents at an early age, living for many years in Chicago, before moving to Council Bluffs.

Mrs. Higgins was the widow of Hugh C. Higgins, trainmaster for the Rock Island railroad for many years, whose death occurred in 1930.

Mrs. Higgins was long active in the affairs of her church and her community. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church in Winterset, and of its Altar and Rosary society. In Council Bluffs she was a past grand regent of the Catholic Daughters of America and past president of the Women's Catholic order of Foresters and the American Legion auxiliary.

In addition to Monsignor Higgins, she is survived by three other sons, Hugh M. T. Higgins of Omaha, William H. Higgins of Council Bluffs and Rev. Daniel J. Higgins, S.J., of Milwaukee, Wisc.; two daughters, Mrs. James M. Carr of Chicago and Mrs. Robert J. McCabe of Denver, Colo; a sister, Mrs. John Dyer of Chicago; and 12 grandchildren.

Rosary services for Mrs. Higgins were said last Thursday and Friday nights at the Collins Funeral home in Winterset.

Solemn requiem Mass was held from St. Joseph's church Saturday morning, celebrated by Monsignor Higgins. The Rev. Daniel J. Higgins of Milwaukee served as deacon, and the Rev. Charles Phelan of Des Moines as sub-deacon. Bishop Edward C. Daily, O.P., of the Des Moines diocese of the Catholic church gave the absolution, and the V. Rev. Thomas Costin of Council Bluffs gave the sermon. The Revs. James Stessman of Des Moines and Dennis Curtin of Churchville served as masters of ceremonies.