Joan Marie Higgins

Joan was born on September 13, 1928, in Cambridge, MA, and graduated from St. Mary High School and Burdett College of Business. She enjoyed successful stints in the banking and retail industries while raising five children in Waltham, MA; Newton, MA; Winston-Salem, NC; and eventually, Germantown, TN, where she was an active member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church from 1982 through 2016. At every stop in her journey, Joan made numerous life-long friends, who were drawn by her kindness, grace, and limitless hospitality.

Joan is survived by her husband of 63 years, William G. Higgins of St. Petersburg, FL; five children: Peter J. Higgins of Barnesville, GA; Sue A. Higgins of St. Petersburg, FL; Christopher A. Higgins (Barbara) of Franklin, TN; Marybeth Huggins (Art) of Asheville, NC; and Linda Collings (Chad) of Mandeville, LA; and ten grandchildren: Christopher, Kevin, and Laura Higgins of Franklin, TN; Katharine Haddad of St. Petersburg, FL, and Andrew Haddad of Gainesville, FL; Sean Higgins of Griffin, GA; Molly and Gracie Huggins of Asheville, NC; and Matthew and Jack Collings of Mandeville, LA. Joan is also survived by her brother, Paul Duffley of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and Joseph A. Duffley, Sr., and her brother, Joseph A. Duffley, Jr.

Visitation to celebrate Joan’s life will be held on Friday, January 26 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Avenue Chapel. Funeral Mass will be said on Saturday, January 27, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Germantown, TN.

Online condolences may be made at www.MemphisFuneralHome.net