Kathleen Marie Higgins

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Kathleen Marie Higgins, age 67, of Vernon Hills, Illinois, left this world peacefully on the early morning of February 14, 2024, following a brave two- and half-year fight against pancreatic cancer.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at Epiphany Parish Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 N Adams Ave. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Epiphany Parish Facebook page. A visitation in her honor will be held one hour prior to the service time at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N Pennsylvania Ave. Prayers will begin at 10:15 a.m. with a procession to Holy Family to follow. Inurnment will be held in the Clear Lake Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. 

Kathleen was born In Mason City on April 5, 1956, to Luke and Arlene (Long) Higgins. Kathleen graduated from Newman High School in 1974 and went on to Loras College where she earned a degree in history. She worked many years as a Senior Production Specialist on the Estate Planning Team for CCH Inc./Wolters Kluwer, editing and proofreading federal laws and statutes.  She was a master of her craft and even in the final days before her death, she was giving tax advice naming federal tax codes by name and number for nearly any situation. 

As a child, Kathleen was a natural on the dance floor and competed in many dance competitions with her older brother, Dennis. Later in life, her love for the sport of soccer was undeniable. Whether it was playing in an adult league in the Chicagoland area, coaching her daughter, Karen’s travel soccer team, or rooting for the Women’s National team, Kathleen was always present. Cats also held a special place in Kathleen’s heart, and she was a devoted caregiver to her feline companions over the years, showering them with love and affection. A true Jeopardy! enthusiast, Kathleen never missed a nightly episode and could often be found shouting out the correct responses with impressive speed and accuracy.

Genealogy was another passion of Kathleen’s, and she spent countless hours tracing her family's roots and uncovering fascinating stories from the past. Her dedication to preserving her family's history will be cherished by future generations. Kathleen’s love for family history poured into her summer trips to Irish Fest in Milwaukee, WI where she would celebrate her heritage with dancing, food and Irish music.

Kathleen is survived by her daughter, Karen (Nick) Kaiser and their three children, Alex, Andrew, and Abby, brothers Dennis (Barb) and Don (Cindy) Higgins and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents Luke and Arlene Higgins along with Alex Trebeck.