+Sister Barbara Higgins, OSB

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+Sister Barbara Higgins, OSB

Sister Barbara (Marjorie) Higgins, OSB, died on December 4, 2020 at St. Scholastica Monastery. Born on June 6, 1935 to Clinton and Genevieve (LeBeau) Higgins in Duluth, Minnesota, she was one of a family of twelve children. Her strong Catholic upbringing, her connection with the Benedictine Sisters at St. Clement’s and Cathedral, and the witness of her sister, Sister Mary Rae, all contributed to her desire to join the Monastery in 1953. She professed her Perpetual Vows in 1958, celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 2005, and her Diamond Jubilee in 2015. She was in her 66th year of vowed commitment.

Her love of God and others combined with gifts of joy, thoughtfulness, and humor permeated her varied ministries, starting as a primary grade teacher in Brainerd, Duluth, and Cloquet from 1955 to 1972. From 1972 to 1981 she was a Youth Consultant staff member at the Welch Center, ministering to teens and their parents, directing leadership training, and leading retreat experiences. From 1981 to 1986 she was the Director of Residential Life at the The College of St. Scholastica. In 1987 she graduated from Creighton University with a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality. This experience deepened her prayer life, strengthened her gifts, and enabled her to better accompany others on their faith journeys. In l987 she became Sub-Prioress of the Benedictine Community.

Following a sabbatical, she went to St. Patrick’s Parish in Scottsdale, Arizona and became Director of Initiation and Coordinator of Senior Life until 2006, followed by more involvement as a spiritual director and giving sessions on prayer. In 2014 she returned to the Monastery and became Director of Associates, Novice Director, and continued her work as a spiritual director. Over the years, another important ministry she shared was the gift of laughter and creativity by doing pantomimes, often with music and dance.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers “Butchie” (Lawrence Joseph), Don, James, and Roy and sisters Susan Krier, Pat (Larry) Marlenga, Sister Mary Rae Higgins, and Irene Williams. Besides the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by sisters Nancy (Chuck) Davidson and Bonnie (Mike) Tweedy, brother Wayne (Carol), sister-in-law Evelyn Higgins, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends – all whose lives she deeply cared about.

Wake, Morning Prayer, and funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 11 in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at the Monastery, with Father William Fider as Presider. Interment is at Gethsemane Cemetery. Because of public health restrictions, the funeral is private but will be livestreamed beginning at 9:30am on the Dougherty Funeral Home Facebook Page, https://facebook.com/dfhduluth/. Memorials are preferred to St. Scholastica Monastery.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St, Duluth, MN 55805, 218-727-3555.

 

Posted in Happenings, ObituariesTagged , ,

Comments

  1. Sad news in some ways, but to rejoice in Sr. Barb’s eternal happiness after all the years she shared faith, joy and happiness with so many others – including me since we met in high school and even went to a prom together.
    Thanks for sharing. May she rest in peace! Fr. George

  2. I spent 12 years with Sr. Barbara in RCIA at St. Patricks in Scottsdale, Az. It was the most meaningful and spiritual time of my life. She was a gifted teacher and she instilled the Holy Spirit in most of us. After that time, life wasn’t easy, my husband died, I had to sell my house, I had money problems,my elderly father was near death, my only daughter was suffering from breast cancer and eventually died, but it was Sister Barb who initially awakened me to the Holy Spirit and stood by me through it all. They say you should see Christ in others, and He was so obvious in Sister Barb. Thank you Sister Barb and all you wonderful Sisters at the Benedictine Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota for being so understanding and kind.

  3. Rest in Peace, Sr. Barbara. You made a big impression on me when we first met when I was employed at St. Patrick’s in Scottsdale. You truly were an inspiration, and your humor was infectious! I repeat often a phrase you taught me…”God is good all the time, and all the time God is Good.”
    May God welcome you with open arms.
    Dana Vero

  4. Sister Barbara, you are a joy and at all times, your love, compassion, thoughtfulness, and ready smile blessed each of us who had the great pleasure to get to know you. Your warmth touched my wife, Kaye, and myself virtually daily. I laugh as I think about you, as we often laughed together. Fr Eric, our St Patrick’s Pastor, celebrating the 3rd Sunday of Easter today, encouraged us to be like John, the Baptist, witnessing the Light of Christ. Thank you for your witness. No doubt our Beloved Savior has welcomed you home.

  5. Sister Barbara, you are a joy, and at all times your love, compassion, thoughtfulness, and ready smile blessed each of us who had the great pleasure to get to know you. Your warmth touched my wife, Kaye, and myself virtually daily. I laugh as I think about you, as we often laughed together. Fr Eric, our St Patrick’s Pastor, celebrating the 3rd Sunday of Easter today, encouraged us to be like John, the Baptist, witnessing the Light of Christ. Thank you for your witness. No doubt our Beloved Savior has welcomed you home.

  6. MARGIE (SR. BARBARA) YOU WERE MY SISTERS BEST FRIEND FOR MANY YEARS DURING CHILDHOOD.
    ELLAINE BERGH. MAY THE LORD HOLD YOU DEAR TO HIS HEART. DORIS BERGH(CORNELLI).

  7. We were the best of friends all thru St Clements elem. and
    Cathedral high school. She is now with our Lord and her family who
    Preceded her

  8. I just learned of Sister Barb’s passing. How appropriate it is to learn of her passing on Christmas Eve as this is the day that I always remember her. When a student at St. Scholastica I went through some very difficult times and Sister Barb was there to listen, advise and just be a friend. The last year I was at CSS, Sister Barb gave me a Christmas candle from the chapel made by the nuns. This candle is displayed in my home and each Christmas I light the candle and reflect on my conversations and the advice from Sister Barb, from 30 years ago.
    She was a very special person and a true angel in my eyes. May her memory live on with all the lives she touched.

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“And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in peace.”
–St. Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict