Bertha F. Higgins

Bertha F. Higgins, age 95, of Dover, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, in Hennis Care Centre at Dover.

Born Dec. 6, 1917, in Cuyahoga Falls, she was a daughter of the late Ferdinand and Bertha Guthier Phillips. Bertha graduated from high school in Akron, and, on Jun. 29, 1940, married Floyd Higgins. The couple reared six children, and shared thirty-one years prior to Floyd's passing on Dec. 17, 1971. Bertha went on to work for Union Hospital in Dover, from which she retired.

She was a member of St. Joseph Church at Dover, the church's senior citizens group, and the Dover Eagles Auxiliary. She loved traveling, visiting many locations in the U.S., as well as making a trip to England. Bertha had a kind heart, and made friends easily wherever she went. She was fond of reading in her spare time, playing cards and working on various craft projects.

Survivors include two daughters, Judith Higgins of Dover, and Linda Smith of Twinsburg; daughter-in-law, Kimberly Higgins of Twinsburg; three sons, Chris (JoAnn) Higgins of Standish, MI, Gary (Beverly) Higgins of Louisville, and Ron (Kathy) Higgins of Wooster; six grandchildren, Marc (Lisa) Smith of Cleveland, Edie (Peter) Dale of Twinsburg, Kevin Higgins of Massillon, Aria (Tim) Crawford of Akron, Ronald "R.J." Higgins and Jerry Smith, both of Wooster; six great-grandchildren, Ethan, Simon and April Dale, Trey, Aiden and Madison Crawford.

In addition to her parents, and her husband, Floyd, Bertha was preceded in death by a son, James Higgins; a sister, Rosemary Mann; and a brother, Clarence Phillips.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 12, 9:30 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, Dover. Burial will be in Dover's St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery. Following the committal, there will be a meal in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard at Dover. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bertha, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Bertha's memory be made to St. Joseph Church, 613 N. Tuscarawas Ave., Dover, OH 44622.