William 'Bill' Raphael Higgins
Passed on: January 31st, 2009
1933 - 2009 Reserve Mines William 'Bill" Higgins, 76, formerly of Reserve Mines, passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at Victoria County Memorial Hospital, Baddeck. Born in Glace Bay, he was the son of the late James and Catherine (Murphy) Higgins. Bill was employed in the coal mines for several years. He also worked for Catholic Charities in Toronto, Winnipeg and London, England. He then joined the army, serving in Korea, after which he returned to Cape Breton and worked a number of years as commissionaire at Glace Bay Hospital. Bill was a resident of Victoria Haven Nursing Home, Glace Bay, then he was transferred to Alderwood Guest Home, Baddeck. Bill was a quiet man who enjoyed a game of cards and bingo. Bill is survived by his son, Alan (Cathy); granddaughter, Sierra, Ontario; sisters, Annabelle Thomson and Isabell, both of Dominion, sister-in-law, Josie, P.E.I.; brothers, Peter and Garvie (Joanne), both of Ontario; a brother-in-law, Harry Sophocleous, Sydney; numerous nieces, nephews, special cousins, John and Barbara McGuire. Besides his parents, Bill was predeceased by brothers, John (Nan), James, Andrew, Patrick, Alex and one in infancy, sisters, Janet (Jack) Carver, Ellen (Ron) Bird, Margaret Sophocleous and sister-in-law, Beth. In honouring Bill's wishes, cremation has taken place under the care and direction of V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 16 Reserve St., Glace Bay. A funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 at St. Eugene's Church, Dominion, with Fr. Gerald Campbell officiating. Interment will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Reserve Mines at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to St. Eugene's Church Cemetery Fund. Online condolences to the Higgins family are available through www.vjmcgillivray.ca.
