HIGGINS, ALICE M. (McCULLOUGH) - 1925 - 2012 - Alice Marie (McCullough) Higgins has gone to be with her beloved husband (Willie) she dreamed of him often and bided her time until they would dance again. Alice died peacefully on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at home with her family by her side. Alice was born in Moose Mountain on July 20, 1925. She was the 4th born to Harold McCullough (Peter McCullough and Mary McSheffery) and Marian Pierce (James Pierce and Margaret Sullivan). Alice lost her mother at the early age of seven and accepted the position of caregiver to her siblings as her natural role. She knew this was the career for her. Alice’s love of mothering and nurturing prepared her for her future with Willie. Alice went out to work in Hartland at Hatfield’s potato factory in 1945 and 1946 and then to Deer Island in 1947 to H. W. Welch Limited at Fairhaven, Deer Island packing sardines. She didn’t travel home much during her time there as the ferry ride didn’t agree with her. During the plant shutdowns she did housekeeping for Mr. George Eaton, who owned the company. Willie courted her from Hartland to Deer Island and she got her diamond in St. Stephen 1947. She married her soul mate Willie in 1948 (two orphans destined to make a family). Alice gave birth to 9 children from 1949 to 1965 six girls and three boys. She devoted her life to raising her family and also mothering many other children and grandchildren in the community. We often made reference to Mom’s Ph. D. in Domestic Engineering. She kept house for many families in the surrounding communities, while managing a busy home of her own. Alice thought it might be an adventure to go to work at McCain’s when her children were older. Mom made many good friends while there and spoke fondly of her time on the potato line, and also of the travel time to and from work with her close friends and neighbors’ Helen Denny and Helen Mahoney. These times seemed like a social event in itself according to her journals vivid memories. Alice could, at a moments notice, produce a meal from meager ingredients. No one was ever turned away from her table. Mom would ensure there was always enough to go around no matter how many people we brought home with us. She was a gracious hostess no matter how spur-of-the-moment the gathering. She loved to have a house full of people; this was evident when many of snow bound traveler might become a house guest for days. Alice was an avid reader and news hound. We were encouraged to be aware of current events, watching history unfold was often a family affair. Alice was an active member of the CWL at St. Josephs in Bath and St. John the Evangelist in Johnville. While living in Saint John Alice was a parishioner of both the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and St. Peter parishes. Alice joined the parish of Saint Ann’s in Keswick when she moved there in 1996. Alice was unable to attend church in her final years but spent a good portion of her time with her rosary beads and daily prays. After moving back to Saint John in 2011 she also enjoyed visits’ from special cousin Father John Beaumaster. Alice and her sister Nora resided together in her final years, seeing each other daily brought much joy to her and many laughs of all their childhood shenanigans. Alice is survived by: her children Noreen (Ulrich) Rosa, Mount Vernon, NY, Danny, Aliston, ON, Marian, Saint John, NB, Rose (Leslie) Brown, Bloomfield, NB, Mike (Denise), Caroline, AB Joe, Innisfail, AB Theresa (Timmy) Tompkins, Mactaquac, NB and Jackie, Saint John, NB; son-in-law Cecil Cummings, Kiloween, NB. A loving Nana to Melissa Brown, Jamie and Terry Melanson, Monica, Shean and Willie Higgins, Jennifer Brown and Katelyn Tompkins, Jessica and Riley Higgins, Amelia Higgins, Kami McLean, Bailey Higgins. Sister Nora McCullough, Saint John, NB, brothers Joe (Syl) McCullough, Oshawa, ON, Jim McCullough; Lower Sackville, NS; sister-in-law Doris McCullough, Oshawa ON; stepsisters Phyllis (Donald) Giberson, Holmesville, NB, Myrna (Peter) Pacione, Florenceville, NB, stepbrothers; Robert (Jean) Demerchant, Holmesville, NB, Lowell (Joan) Demerchant, Holmesville, NB, Keith (Mary) Demerchant, Upper Kent, NB, and special friends, Marylou McCullough (cousin), Saint John, NB, Beverly Ruff (daughter # 7), Saint John, NB and Donna Morton, Keswick Ridge, NB; many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins. Besides her parents Alice was predeceased by her husband William Higgins, daughter C. Anne Cummings, grandchildren Drew and Garrett Higgins, daughter-in-law Cynthia (MacDonald) Higgins, stepmother Flora (Demerchant) McCullough, brothers Cecil McCullough and infant brother Ambrose McCullough, sisters, Mona Beckett and husband Cyril, Anna Vansantvoort and husband Eddie, infant sister Gertrude McCullough, sister-in-law Kathleen McCullough, stepsister, Juanita Bowater, and stepbrother, Avery Demerchant.
Visitation will be held from L.R. Giberson Funeral Directors 207 Burnham Rd. Florenceville-Bristol on Friday, December 21, 2012 from 4 pm to 9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 22 at 10:00 am from St. John the Evangelist Church, Johnville. Rev. David Fulton as celebrant and Rev. John Beaumaster concelebrant. Interment will be in the Johnville Cemetery. Memorial donations made to the Martin Kilfoil Fund or to the Kidney Foundation of Canada would be appreciated. www.gibersonfuneraldirectors.ca (506) 392-1115