Sheila Ellen Higgins

Sheila Ellen Higgins, 83, passed away peacefully May 31, 2019, due to pancreatic cancer.

She was born Nov. 3, 1935, in Lafayette, Ind., to George and Rosie Donahue. She married John Patrick Higgins in April 1963.

Sheila spent her life achieving and then serving.  The owner of four world records in swimming, she spent seven years as a teacher before having a family and becoming a social activist on behalf of the unborn, refugees and the poor.

She was the beloved mother of Sean, Brendan, Shannon and Gavin, and proud grandmother of Jack, Aidan, Sam and Declan.  Sheila was also mother to twins Anne Elizabeth and Cecilia Mary who passed soon after birth. She was preceded in death by her husband John, son Sean, and brother Richard Donahue.

After boarding school in Chicago, Sheila graduated from Loyola and became a teacher in Chicago.  After moving to Washington, D.C.,  she met her future husband John, a lawyer.  They raised their children in Dallas.  Sheila spent the last 20 years living on their ranch near Tehuacana doing ranchy things.

Sheila was a spectacular person who was loved spectacularly.

A celebration of Sheila’s life was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 4.  A rosary was held the previous evening at 6 p.m. at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home. A memorial Mass will also be held in Dallas at Christ the King Church at 11 a.m. June 10.

Please visit www.blairstubbs.com to leave the family a message of condolence or sign the guest book.