Margaret "Denise" Higgins

The ranks of heaven have received a kind and loving soul. Margaret "Denise" Higgins 87, of Denver, CO (Morrison, CO last three years), passed Monday, September 18, 2017. She was born July 24, 1930 at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD to the late Ethel Julia (10/7/1890-11/12/1970) and William "Eugene" Kinney (4/22/1888-4/19/1955). She is survived by her husband Thomas E Higgins Jr, her children; Mary Kay Maixner of Morrison CO, Patricia Broomhall of Sandia Park NM, Thomas Higgins of Denver CO, Sheila Higgins of Parker CO, Kelly Bachmeier of Irvine CA, Shannon Bielenberg of Rio Rancho NM & Tracy Higgins of Gulf Breeze FL and their spouses; 23 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and her siblings; "Rita" Ethel Winifred McFarland & Mary Janet Carroll.



Denise was the 7th born of 8 children: (Jeanne Marie 11/17/1918, Katherine Patricia 7/10/1920, William Donovan 8/27/1922, Madeline Agnes 7/21/1923, Robert Emmet 3/21/1925, Ethel Winifred 11/1/1926, Margaret Denise 7/24/1930, Mary Janet 1/27/32). Denise graduated from St Mary's High School in Salem, SD in 1948. She went to St Joseph Hospital nursing school in Mitchell, SD. Denise married Tom November 28, 1959 and the two were to celebrate 58 years of marriage next month. Her adult life was spent primarily in Denver CO but she also lived in California, McCook NE, Houston TX & Morrison CO.



In addition to a busy household with 9 family members, Denise was an adopted parent for many friends of her children. Dinner was regularly a table set for 10 or more. Unannounced guests, as were common decades ago, were warmly and kindly greeted with a seat at the table. She would feed the multitudes and managed to always have plenty.



Denise and Tom made a habit of spending a half hour most days sharing the day's events over a Manhattan cocktail. This ritual was shared for decades and continued until her passing.



She found great comfort in her faith and church. She was very active with Saint Vincent DePaul parish, especially because 6 of her children went to school there. Her final parish was Church of the Risen Christ and you would find her at church every Sunday when she lived by the parish. She moved to Morrison the last three years, but couldn't bring herself to officially change parish.



She spent many days at the Evergreen Senior Resource Center and especially loved the field trips they would do weekly.



Services will be held Thursday, Oct 5, 2017 at 2:00 pm at:

Church of the Rise Christ:

3060 S Monaco Pkwy, Denver, CO 80222



A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at:

Tallyn's Reach Clubhouse

24900 E Park Crescent Dr, Aurora, CO 80016



Flowers can be sent to:

Church of the Rise Christ:

3060 S Monaco Pkwy, Denver, CO 80222



Donations to a charity on her behalf can be made to Alzheimer's Association:

http://www.alz.org/co/in_my_community_104605.asp


The Broken Chain



We little knew that day,
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death, we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you.
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide.
And although we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.