Gerard William Joseph Higgins

Gerard William Joseph Higgins of Sandwich died at home after a lengthy illness in his home surrounded by those who loved him Sept. 15, 2011. Joe, as he was known, was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, the son of William and Margaret Higgins. Joe was the only surviving child of eight siblings. His father died when he was young and he was raised under his mothers watchful eye. At the age of 16, Joe went off to Saint Josephs College and later entered the Order of the Holy Cross, graduated from Gregorian University and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in Rome. Joe served Holy Cross in a variety of capacities, teacher, chaplain and administrator for 29 years. In 1991, Joe married Anne McManus at Christ Episcopal Church in Plymouth. Joe also served as a substance abuse counselor, minister and headmaster at Trinity Christian Academy. In 2006, he was received into the Anglican Church as a priest and served as rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Forestdale from 2004 to 2006. Joe is survived by his wife, Anne; loving cousins in Canada; and nieces and nephews in Massachusetts. His funeral service will be held Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, at Christ Chapel, 1200 Old Stage Road, Centerville, at 3 p.m. Visiting hours will be Saturday at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rte. 28), Wareham, Saturday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis Port, MA 02601, or Latham Centers, Inc., 1646 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, or the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 936, Forestdale, MA 02644. For directions and online guest book, visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com.