Mildred Higginson

Name: Visitation
Start: 09/09/2023 10:30 AM
End: 09/09/2023 11:30 AM
Location: Delehanty Funeral Home

August 11, 1926 — September 6, 2023

Mildred P. “Millie” (Konyn) Higginson, 97, of Loves Park, IL, passed away Wednesday, September 6, 2023, in her home. She was born at home on August 11, 1926, in Ivanhoe, MN, the daughter of T. John and Ellen (Andersen) Konyn. Her paternal family was from the Netherlands and her maternal family was from Denmark. Shortly after she was born, her family moved back to her parent's hometown of Marinette, W I , where she grew up. Her family lived on a small rural farm, and she grew up without ever having electricity or indoor plumbing at home. She attended a one room schoolhouse all during her elementary years. When Millie was 13 years old , her mother became ill and had to move into a TB sanitarium where she died four years later. Also , during that time, two of Millie's brothers and two of her brother s -in-law were off fighting in W orld W ar II . Life was difficult but her family was fortunate to see all their men in uniform return home safely when the war was over. After high school, Millie decided to move with a girlfriend to Chicago to find work. Shortly thereafter, Millie and her friends were walking downtown where they spotted a group of handsome young men who started to flirt with them. That led to Millie and Bobby G. Higginson meeting and marrying the following year on Nov ember 20, 1948 , in Marinette. Bobby and Millie moved to Loves Park , IL, in 1966 , and once all their kids were in school, Millie worked for many years at the local Green Stamp Store at the Meadow Mart . She later worked for several years in the cafeteria at Harlem High School. About 2013, she was proud to take part in the filming of the Harlem Veteran Project, recalling what life was like on the home front during W orld War II. During her spare time, she was an avi d seamstress, making clothing for her children and grandchildren and also made quite a number of quilts. A devoted Chicago Cubs fan and was thrilled to see them win the World Series. She was a longtime member of St . Bridget Catholic Church in Loves Park. Bobby and Millie's marriage lasted over 60 years before his death in 2009 . Survivors include son , Patrick (Janet) Higginson ; daughters, Sharon (John) Shirk, Linda (Torrey) Mitchell, Ellen Quinn and Laura (Marc) Raia ; 9 wonderful grandchildren , Steven (Patty) Higginson, John (Mallie) Shirk, Jenna (Jeremy) Thompson, Emily (Neil) Gregory, Carrie (Mark) Deal, Bobby (Rachel) Michaels, Nikolas Langhorst, Hannah Langhorst , and Alice Bridges ; 17 great - grandchildren , Andrew, Roman and Hunter Higginson, Oakley, Baron, Scarlett, Phoebe, Maddox and Steele Shirk, Adelaide, Lincoln, Emmeline and Ronan Thompson, Hadley and Sloane Gregory, Owen Deal, Iona Michaels and one more great - grandchild due in December. Predeceased by parents; husband; daughter, daughter, Gail in 1958 , when she was six years old ; 4 sisters , Margaret, Gertrude, Francis , and Louise ; and 4 brothers , John, Nicholas , Peter , and Ben. Millie's family thanks her caretakers from OSF Hospice as well as her longtime nurses , Cynthia, and Teresa. We also acknowledge the loving care that was given by her daughters , Ellen, Sharon , and Linda , and her son , Pat, and son-in-law, John, who was always on call to lend a hand and to be our fix-it guys when needed. We wouldn't have been able to keep mom in her home all these years without many hands to help us and for that, we are grateful.

Service at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Delehanty Funeral Home, 401 River Lane, Loves Park, IL, with visitation from 10:30 a.m. to service time. Burial graveside service at 9 a.m. Monday, September 11, 2023, in Arlington Memorial Park, Rockford, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital.

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