Carol Ann Higgins

Freeport-Following a long illness, Carol Ann Higgins, 77, passed away at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick on March 29, with her children by her side.

She was born August 23, 1936 in Calais, eldest of three daughters born to Charles (Chick) and Mabel Redding. Her family moved to Belfast, Maine, where she lived until age 13 when they returned to Calais. She graduated in 1955 from Woodland High School and married Paul Higgins on June 1, 1957.
Originally a bookkeeper, she and Paul owned Sunrise Trustworthy Hardware in Woodland. Later, they lived in Gorham, NH, and then Poland, Maine, until his death in 2001. Carol moved to Brunswick and eventually became a resident of Clover Manor in Auburn. Most recently, she lived at the Freeport Nursing Home.

An avid craftswoman, Carol owned a knitting business and label, Mt. Irish, and produced custom knits for ski areas and fine sweaters, one worn by Bill Cosby on the Cosby Show. Carol loved to swim and enjoyed summers at Big Lake for many years. She was a devoted mother, and grandmother who loved to cook and spend time with her family. She read constantly and shared hundreds of books over the years with libraries, nursing homes and hospitals. She was a great card player! Gregarious, loving and fun, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Carol is predeceased by Paul, her husband of 44 years, and her sister, Sandra Blaney, who passed away in 2013. She is survived by her sister, Janice Lea Redding and her son Charles (Robbie) of Cooper, Maine, her daughter, Dacia Klinkerch and husband Ed, granddaughter Anna and grandson Victor all of Raymond, Maine, her son, Don Higgins and wife Kathy and granddaughter Keighley of Brunswick, Maine, and brother-in-law, Gerald Blaney, of Woodland, Maine.