Obituary of Cecily A. Higgins

Allegany, NY - Cecily Ann Higgins passed away peacefully on Friday (November 4, 2022) after a courageous battle with lung cancer surrounded by her loving family and 30 minutes after her son, Bryan arrived from Oregon. Cecily was born to Frank and Kathryn Prieve on March 10, 1938, at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Cecily graduated from the Little Company of Mary School of Nursing with her RN in 1959 and she worked in hospitals in New York City and Chicago Heights. She married Joseph E Higgins at Infant Jesus of Prague Church in Flossmoor, IL on Sept 21, 1963. They had their three children in three different states, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as they moved for Joe’s career, and Cecily worked as a nurse in all these locations, giving her experience in everything from working in a doctor’s office to ER, ICU and surgery. Cecily loved her family and friends and had nothing but kind words for everyone. She adored her children and grandchildren and always remembered their birthdays. She enjoyed beaches, skiing, tennis, camping, reading, travel, hiking, and walking. She was active in book clubs, gardening, and walking on the Allegheny River Valley Trail. She had an easy smile that caused people she rarely associated with to regularly ask about her welfare in her last years of battling with cancer. Cecily and Joe met at a ski club outing in Chicago, and skiing had been a constant in their lives and their kids’ lives too. Surviving in addition to her husband Joseph of 59 years are 3 children: Michael (Amy) Higgins of Allegany, Karen (Todd) Clark of Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, and Bryan (Christine) Higgins of Portland, OR; 8 Grandchildren: Elizabeth Higgins, Kathryn Higgins, Ryan Wisniewski, Abigail Higgins, Megan Clark, Emily Clark, Ryan Clark, Frances Higgins ; 2 Siblings: Bob (Pat) Prieve of Thousand Oaks, CA and Ginny Monteen of San Louis Obispo, CA and many friends who will miss her caring grace, kindness, quiet strength and warm-hearted nature. The family will receive friends Friday (November 11,2022) from 4-6 at the Casey, Halwig, and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 West State Road, Olean. A prayer service will be held Saturday (November 12, 2022) at 9:30am in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am at the St. Bonaventure Church, 95 E. Main St., Allegany. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Roswell Park Cancer Center, www.roswellpark.org or Mt Irenaeus, www.mountainonline.org. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.