Obituary for Mary Ellen Higgins
Mary Ellen Higgins was born to Florence and Patrick Higgins in Passaic, NJ on June 20, 1957. As a child, she moved with her family to Evergreen Park, IL and then back to Rutherford, NJ. The family grew to 8 children: Kathy, Patty, Brian, Mary Ellen, Kevin, Barbara, Sheila and Tom. She attended Saint Mary Elementary and graduated from Saint Mary High School. Mary was always busy with schoolwork as well as cheerleading and a
part time job at the local movie theater. Mary went to college in New Brunswick, NJ and graduated from Douglass College, Rutgers University. After college, she married her high school sweetheart, Ted Gonzalez, and worked for a while as a preschool teacher. She changed course and began working for Chase Manhattan and then worked for Prudential Insurance for many years.
Through hard work and long hours, Mary was very successful at Prudential and went on
to become Vice President of Human Resources in charge of executive compensations
until her retirement in 2015.
Mary enjoyed traveling with her husband to Europe, Mexico, Florida, California and Hawaii. Every summer they entertained their large extended family at their vacation home in the Poconos. She could always find room for everyone to stay, and many family memories were made there.
Her husband, Ted, sadly died in 2013 and after retiring Mary moved to Lewes, DE, accompanied by her beloved dachshund, Heidi. She reconnected with some old friends and made new friends with her outgoing, amiable personality. She did volunteer work at Cape Henlopen State Park and St. Judes Church, Lewes, DE. She always had time to enjoy watching the Yankees with long, group texts with her family during the games.
Mary started to develop mobility problems and was diagnosed with a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disease. She moved into an assisted living facility in Delaware as her mobility started to degenerate and eventually, she moved to Winchester Gardens in Maplewood, NJ where she quietly passed away on December 11, 2021.
Mary was a gentle spirit with a great sense of humor that really enjoyed a good joke and sharing family news. She had a truly caring personality and always had a smile for everyone. She was a thoughtful aunt to her 17 nieces and nephews, always inquiring about their lives. Mary was extremely loyal to her family and friends and loved large family gatherings for the holidays or birthdays, sport events and weddings. Mary rarely missed a party, or a special occasion and her sweet laughter brought much joy. Her warm, gentle and charming spirit will be missed deeply by her family and friends.
The funeral mass in the Church of Saint Mary will be live streamed. Please go to Mary Ellen Higgin's home page on our website and press the tab for photos and videos there you will find the link at the bottom of page.
You can copy and paste link for direct live stream - https://youtu.be/cWGiJyPYO40
part time job at the local movie theater. Mary went to college in New Brunswick, NJ and graduated from Douglass College, Rutgers University. After college, she married her high school sweetheart, Ted Gonzalez, and worked for a while as a preschool teacher. She changed course and began working for Chase Manhattan and then worked for Prudential Insurance for many years.
Through hard work and long hours, Mary was very successful at Prudential and went on
to become Vice President of Human Resources in charge of executive compensations
until her retirement in 2015.
Mary enjoyed traveling with her husband to Europe, Mexico, Florida, California and Hawaii. Every summer they entertained their large extended family at their vacation home in the Poconos. She could always find room for everyone to stay, and many family memories were made there.
Her husband, Ted, sadly died in 2013 and after retiring Mary moved to Lewes, DE, accompanied by her beloved dachshund, Heidi. She reconnected with some old friends and made new friends with her outgoing, amiable personality. She did volunteer work at Cape Henlopen State Park and St. Judes Church, Lewes, DE. She always had time to enjoy watching the Yankees with long, group texts with her family during the games.
Mary started to develop mobility problems and was diagnosed with a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disease. She moved into an assisted living facility in Delaware as her mobility started to degenerate and eventually, she moved to Winchester Gardens in Maplewood, NJ where she quietly passed away on December 11, 2021.
Mary was a gentle spirit with a great sense of humor that really enjoyed a good joke and sharing family news. She had a truly caring personality and always had a smile for everyone. She was a thoughtful aunt to her 17 nieces and nephews, always inquiring about their lives. Mary was extremely loyal to her family and friends and loved large family gatherings for the holidays or birthdays, sport events and weddings. Mary rarely missed a party, or a special occasion and her sweet laughter brought much joy. Her warm, gentle and charming spirit will be missed deeply by her family and friends.
The funeral mass in the Church of Saint Mary will be live streamed. Please go to Mary Ellen Higgin's home page on our website and press the tab for photos and videos there you will find the link at the bottom of page.
You can copy and paste link for direct live stream - https://youtu.be/cWGiJyPYO40