Dorothy Higgins

Dorothy Estella Higgins, the daughter of Fred and Agnes (Grace) Monahan, was born on February 23, 1925 at her parent’s home in Cedar Township near Churdan, Iowa and departed this life Sept. 25 at the Carroll Health Center in Carroll, Iowa.  She lived a full life to the age of 89 years old.

Dorothy attended and graduated from Churdan High School in 1942. On February 16, 1944, Dorothy Monahan was united in marriage to Sam Higgins at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Township. Seven children were born to this union. After their marriage they moved into Churdan. Dorothy raised her family and later was employed at General Electric in Carroll for 17 years. Sam passed away in 1996 and Dorothy continued to live in the same home in Churdan for 63 years until her death. After her retirement she fulfilled a life-long desire to visit the home of her ancestors.  For 10 days in 2000 she traveled through Ireland, where she kissed the Blarney Stone, attended Mass and toured the Emerald Isle. Two years later, accompanied by her oldest daughter, Patricia, she traveled to Rome where she toured the Vatican, tossed coins in the Trevi Fountain and viewed the Sistine Chapel.

Dorothy was a faithful and active member of St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church in Churdan and a former member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Township. Her love for God, her family and her church was demonstrated by her ministry to the Catholic Daughters of America, the Rosary Society and Eucharistic Minister. She served as President of the Rosary Society for 20 years and served in leadership roles for the Catholic Daughters of America (CDA). She was a Council Member for CCW which gave her the opportunity to travel to different parts of the country including the year the entire convention of Women walked together across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Dorothy is survived by two daughters, Patricia Hirschberg of Chanhassen, Minn. and Mary Bradshaw of Punta Gorda, FL, four sons: Steve and his wife Ardis of Omaha, Neb., Mark of Dallas, TX, Larry and his wife Marilyn of Kansas City, MO and Ed and his wife Jill of Boone, Iowa.  She leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is a sister, Rosemary (Bud) Minnehan of Churdan, brother, Eugene Monahan of Churdan and sister-in-law, Julie Monahan of Lincoln, Neb. and many neices and nephews.  Those who preceded her in death were her parents, husband, son David in 1992, sisters Grace Beschorner, Marcella Monahan, Genevieve Ganley and brothers Raymond Monahan and Michael Monahan.
Mass of the Christian burial was held on Sept. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church in Churdan with Father Jeff Scheisman officiating and Father Steven McLoud presenting the homily.  Burial was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Cedar Township west of Churdan. Musical selections were sung by Rochelle Guess, Amanda Helms, Greg Carey and accompanied by organist, Lois Last.

Casket Bearers were grandchildren: Robb Hirschberg, Jennifer Bradshaw Martin, Chris Higgins, Patrick Higgins, Chaste Higgins, and Austin Higgins.    

The Brown Funeral Home in Churdan was assisting the family.