Florence Higgins

Middletown, RI - Florence Gussie Higgins, 82, of Middletown, RI, died Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.She was the wife of the late Col James H. Higgins, USMC. She was the daughter of the late Gus and Bella Paquette.Born in Mohegan, RI, she graduated from Burrillville High School. As a teen she competed in skeet shooting tournaments. She graduated from Boston University Sergeant College where she taught rifling and was a member of the Boston Field Hockey Association. After teaching at St. Xavier School in Providence for a short period, she joined the Navy. After training at the Newport Naval Station, she was deployed to the Naval Air Station in Memphis, TN. Her duties as a Lt. J.G. were cryptology, personnel and the Waves physical program. Married to Col. Higgins, she raised six children while he did 2 tours in Vietnam. Upon the Cols retirement they returned to Middletown where she worked as a dental assistant for many years until her retirement at the age of 80. She is survived by her children, Laurie Higgins of Roslindale, MA, Kevin Higgins of Westbrook, CT, Cathleen Hedlund of Easton, MA, Timothy Higgins of Crestwood, MO, Brian Higgins of Portsmouth, RI, and Tracy Doura of Coventry, RI. She also leaves eleven grandchildren. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 29, 2012, from 4-7pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.Her funeral will be held on Monday, January 30, 2012, at 8:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 am in St. Lucys Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown.Burial will be in Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. Donations in her memory may be made to Lucys Hearth, 913 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842.