Constance “Connie” Boynton Higgins

WATERVILLE – Constance “Connie” Boynton Higgins passed quietly into the arms of her Savior on Dec. 21, 2021. She was born April 17, 1926, to Winifred and Vernon Boynton. Winifred passed in 1927 and Connie was raised by her loving grandparents, Theda and Harry, of Windsor, Maine. She attended China schools, graduating from Erskine Academy, class of 1943. She went on to attend the University of Maine at Orono, graduating in 1949 with a concentration in romance languages. She put herself through college by working summers as a chambermaid at the Atlantic House in Scarborough, Maine. She married Seth “Bud” Higgins Jr. in December of 1950. The two raised five children, Bill, Joe, Cindy, Mike, and Jon in their South China home.

After a short stint as a medical transcriptionist and a telephone operator, Mrs. Higgins spent a long and fruitful career in education, teaching children to read. She taught in Columbia Falls and ¬¬¬Fairfield for a short time, before she began her dream job in the Winslow public school system. Her more than 30-year educational career is commemorated by the acknowledgment of her students. She could hardly go to a grocery store, pizza shop, or local restaurant without hearing someone exclaim, “Hi Mrs. Higgins!” She was fondly regarded by all her former students, and she always remembered each one.

After retiring from education, she went on to teach several of her grandchildren and even neighborhood children to read, using games and tools she had created and developed throughout her life and career. She later went on to put her gifts to work, writing and leading Bible studies with her family. Her love for her family was unmatched, second only to her love for God and her Lord and Savior Jesus. Her greatest delight was sharing the love of Christ with her family, and anyone she met. She was a spiritual giant in her petite 4’10” frame. She had great joy in gathering with her family, and she was the driving force behind the “Higgins Parties.” She was an avid Red Sox fan, crossword puzzle expert, tea party and sleepover hostess, and cribbage “shark.” Her granddaughters share fond memories of sleepovers, trying on her jewelry/makeup, and being sung to sleep with “I Am a Little Kitty.” She adored horses, lighthouses, visiting Pemaquid with family, lobster rolls, and fried scallops. She spent much time teaching her children and several of her grandchildren to play cribbage, rummy, and how to drive a standard. Her years of driving five children before seatbelts created her “automatic arm,” that would pin her grandchildren to the seat whenever she hit the brakes. She was affectionately known as Mom/Nan/Connie and ended every conversation with “love you, bye-bye” or “love you toooo!” She was adored and admired by all who crossed her path, and our memories of her will always evoke feelings of great love and joy.

Connie was predeceased by her son Jon, mother Winifred, father Vernon, stepmother Abbie, brother Larry, sister Joyce, and former husband Bud. She is survived by and remembered dearly by her sister Linda and husband Bob of Florida, children – Seth III of Brunswick, Joel and his wife Patricia of Randolph, Lucinda and her husband Scott of Albion, Michael of South China, and daughters-in -law Thelma Webber and husband Norton, and Mary Quirion and husband Lloyd. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. The family would like to especially acknowledge the friends of Connie, who have helped her in so many ways through the years.

Due to COVID concerns, a private funeral service, open to family members, will be at Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Road, Windsor, Maine. The service will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, with masks and social distancing very strongly encouraged. There will be an outdoor committal service in the spring with plans for an outdoor gathering afterward for all who can attend.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers at the service, friends and family who so choose may donate to the charity of their choice.