Heather A. Higgins

Heather Higgins passed away peacefully on January 2nd at her home in Glenview. She was born in West Derby, Lancashire, England in 1933. Her father Thomas Lumsden was a British Naval officer during WWII, and she spent the war with her mother, Doris, in Cromarty, Scotland. In 1951 she went to the University of Manchester, at a time when very few women attended, graduating in 1954. After earning her degree, she worked as a social worker with families in the greater Manchester area. In June of 1957 she married the love of her life, Geoffrey, in Hartford, Cheshire and they settled in Lymm. In 1969 they moved with their five children to Chicago, for a planned three-year stay. They ended up staying in the US, and living in Winnetka for the next 51 years.

In the mid 1970’s she began a business importing antiques from England. The business grew rapidly from small wooden crates to shipping containers. For over 25 years her antique stores were well-known fixtures in Wilmette and Winnetka. If having five children and an antique business were not enough, she also ran a successful estate sale business in the greater Chicago area. She was a savvy businessperson and had an incredible knowledge and love of antiques which she shared with customers, friends, and her children.

In addition to her business endeavors, she was very passionate about a number of local and national charities and causes. In the late 90’s she spearheaded a campaign to save the architecturally significant Skokie school, in Winnetka from demolition. The building still stands today and is a testament to her tenacity and willingness to fight for the things she believed in. After retiring from the antique business, she was an active volunteer at the Winnetka Thrift shop which benefits The Counseling Center of the North Shore. As a lifelong political activist, she and Geoff worked on elections from the local council in England to Barack Obama’s presidential bids.

Heather was also a brave traveler, with Geoff, or sometimes on her own, she took trips, all across Europe, the United States and the world to spend time with her children, family, friends or just for the adventure.

She is survived by her five children Andrew (Martha), Jacqueline (Richard), Mark (Susan), Jill (Barry), and Peter, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Heather touched so many lives and has left an amazing legacy of accomplishment and love for her many friends and family.

A memorial service for Heather will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 1 PM at Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 1100 Greenleaf Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Counseling Center of the North Shore (www.ccns.org)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WmScottFuneralHome.com for the Higgins family.