Catherine Mary Higgins

It is with great sorrow and deep sadness that we announce the passing of Catherine “Cathy” Mary Higgins (McDonald) of Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 76 years of age. Cathy passed away on November 16, 2025, at the Halifax Infirmary after a short illness. She was lovingly surrounded by her four daughters.

Cathy was predeceased by her parents, Hugh and Beryl McDonald and her brother Tommy McDonald. She is survived by her loving husband, David G. Higgins and her children, Bridget Higgins (Bobby Chow), Kate MacGillivray (Jess), Maureen Higgins and Margaret Higgins (Roman Vierik). She is also survived by her siblings, Terry Malcolm, Bobby McDonald and John McDonald. Cathy will be dearly missed and always remembered by her six grandchildren, Ivy, Hugh, Gwen and Farah MacGillivray and Jack and Veronika Vierik. She will also be deeply missed by many nieces and nephews in Halifax and Ontario.

Cathy was born and raised in Halifax. She attended Saint Patrick’s High School, where she was known to many as “Mouse" and served as captain of the field hockey team. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from Mount St. Vincent University. Cathy enjoyed working at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto at the Pathology Laboratory during her and David’s first year of marriage. She later worked at the Pathology Laboratory in Halifax at the Victoria General Hospital. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Education from Dalhousie University and taught lower elementary school for several years.

Cathy was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who was deeply devoted to her family. Cathy and David grew up in the same neighborhood and had attended school together since childhood. Together since their teenage years, they were married for 54 years. Cathy’s six grandchildren brought her immense joy and she was happily involved in their many activities, loving every moment spent with them.

Cathy was considered a cutie pie by everyone who knew her. She had a wonderful sense of humor matched by her kindness. She was funny, lovable, generous and caring toward others. She loved a good chat, a hot cup of tea and going out for a nice meal. She loved and was loved by her daughters’ friends. She was very active and practiced yoga and Pilates for decades.

Cathy was stylish and loved fashion, shopping until she dropped and always looking for a good deal. She enjoyed many years of shopping trips to Maine with her mother and sister. One of Cathy’s favorite places to spend time was summer days at the Waegwoltic Club. She was blessed with many wonderful, lifelong friendships. She cherished her weekly dinners with her dear friends Yvonne, Bertha and Sandra — a tradition filled with love, laughter and companionship that they shared for decades.

As per Cathy’s wishes, there will be no funeral ceremony. Donations may be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Society of Canada, a condition Cathy managed for most of her life.