It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Viola Rosamond Higgins (nee Robinson) on August 30, 2013 at the Dryden Regional Health Center with her children and family by her side.
She will be missed and remembered by her sons Rudy Gonske (Brandy Watts) of Dryden, Frank Troughton (Jacquie) of Calgary and daughter Deborah Lynn McFarland (nee Troughton) (Fred Gadd) of Wabigoon, her grand children Dylan Gonske and Shyla Watts and her brothers Richard Robinson (Marie) of Dryden and Neil Robinson (Jackie) of Regina.
Viola was predeceased by her husband John Alexander Higgins in 2004, her sister Martha Rudolph and her brothers Jimmy, Brian, Melvin and Vincent.
Viola was born in Minnitaki March 22, 1931. She moved to Montreal in her teens and returned to Dryden in the early 1960s. She worked for the Town of Dryden as a truck driver/operator before returning to school to become a Registered Nurse Assistant. She nursed at the Dryden Hospital on the second floor (chronic wing) where she cared for the elderly. She was known for her hard work, special care and empathy. It was common for her to take patients into her home over the holidays when they did not have family to be with and she made them part of her own. During her nine years at the hospital she was active fighting for human rights, equality in the work place, access for the handicapped and she served as Vice President of the Ontario Federation of Labour.
She married John Higgins in Regina, Saskatchewan on May 20, 1989. They enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping together until 1998 when they were in a highway accident. John was left disabled and Viola devoted herself to his care until his death in June 2004. Viola treasured the opportunity to care for her friends’ children so she had many young friends in her later years and was affectionately known as Auntie or Grandma Vi. Viola was also an active member of the NDP and the Ontario Fur Managers Federation.
The family would like to thank her good friends who supported her and unselfishly helped her so she could remain at home until the last day of her life.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 from 5:00-8:00pm at the Dryden Community Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service to celebrate the life of Viola will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Dryden Community Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Pastor James Wood officiating. Interment to follow at the Dryden Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire donations may be made to the DRHC Palliative Room Refurbishing Fund through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Ave, Dryden, ON P8N 2X3. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to dcfh@drytel.net Subject: Higgins.
