John F. Higgins

John F. Higgins, Avoca, passed away Thursday evening in the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit after an illness. His wife was the former Ann Mullin Higgins, RN who passed away Thanksgiving Day in 1992.

John was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years Ann Mullen Higgins, R.N. and his parents Leo P. Sr. and Lillian Vanston Higgins. As well as a daughter in law, June Higgins and a granddaughter Lauren Higgins. Brother Leo P. Higgins, Jr. Sister Ann Marie Kincel and sister-in-law Marilyn Higgins and Jacqueline Hart and brother-in-law Karl Kincel; Son in law Russell Watkins.

John graduated from Saint Ann's Monastery High School and the University of Scranton. While at the University he served on the student council all four years and was Treasurer of the Class of 52 for the Junior and Senior years. He represented the university at the National Students Convention in 1951, in Minneapolis, MN. After college John served in the Army during the Korean War.

John worked for the State Department of Mines and retired from the Internal Revenue Service after 30 years of service. While employed at the IRS he received many awards and citations. For 17 of those years, he was also the National Vice President of the National Treasury Employees Union representing the Middle Atlantic States. Upon retirement he secured his Enrolled Agents License and represented clients before the IRS and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for over 20 years.

John was a member of the Friendly sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna County; AOH, Avoca, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Pittston, the American Legion, Avoca, the IRS Retirees Club Philadelphia, National

Retired Federal Employees and Pro Fitness Club.

John was a member of Saint Mary's Church at Queen of the Apostle Parish where he served as a member of the Parish Finance Committee, Lector, Eucharist Minister and former President of the Holy Name Society.

John is survived by six children: Michael Higgins and his wife Rose, Wilmington, DE; Mary Ann, Ft Myers, FL,; Maureen Miller and her husband Donald, Avoca; Patricia Watkins, Plains; Karen Gavrish and her husband Frank, Avoca, and Jacquelyn Higgins; A companion Ann Kevra; Eight grandchildren: Heather Hiller and her husband Brian; Erin Higgins; Christopher Miller and his fiancé Alison Reed; Meghann McCall and her husband Jeffery; Jennifer Culp and her husband Jeffery; Thomas Gavrish and his wife Cynthia; Kelly Blaskiewicz and her husband James; and Caitlynn Kempinski and her husband Mathew; Twelve great grandchildren: Michael and Connor Hiller, Abigail, Jacob, and Peyton Culp, Owen, Noah, and Charles McCall, Tyler and Sadie Gavrish, and Jameson and Cooper Blaskiewicz; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at in the Queen of the Apostles Parish at St. Mary's Church 715 Hawthorne Street Avoca.

Friends may call Monday from 4-7pm in the Vanston and James Funeral Home 1401 Ash St. Scranton and Tuesday morning from until the time of the Mass in the church.

Interment, St. Mary's Cemetery, Avoca.

In lieu of flowers the family encourages memorial contributions be made to

To share a fond memory or to express your sincere condolences to the family please visit www.vanstonandjames.com.