Mary Louise (Castaldo) Higgins, 82, died peacefully on Sunday, August 20, 2017 at UMass Memorial Healthcare – University Campus, Worcester.  She was born in Garwood, New Jersey, the daughter of Anthony and Edith (Ford) Castaldo and has lived in Sterling for forty years.

Her beloved husband of 52 years, Robert David Higgins passed away in 2005.  Mary is survived by her children, Lin Lemon and her husband, Steve of Rutland, Bob Higgins and his wife, Liz of Ravena, NY, Judy Higgins of Holden, Jim Higgins and his wife, Annette of Dudley and Mike Higgins and his wife, Donna of Sterling; her grandchildren, Stephenie Lemon, Lisa Adams, Chris Lemon, Mark Higgins, Laura Higgins, Brian Zukowski, Jessica Zukowski, Kurt Zukowski, Kevin Zukowski, Sarah Somers, Sean Higgins, Ashley Higgins, Mike Higgins Jr., Amber Higgins, David Higgins and Katie Higgins; her great-grandchildren, Beau, Brody, Cadence, Sophia, Justice, Renea, Hannah, Yanna, Yvonna, Cameron, Kristen, Jackson, Alex, Ashley, Eleuterio, Ivan and Ryder; her sisters, Helen Kilburg and her husband, Joe of Garwood, New Jersey, Edith Duffy and her late husband, Larry of Arizona; her brothers, Phil Castaldo and his wife, Lin of Garwood, New Jersey and Joseph Castaldo and his wife, Ellen of Arizona; as well as several nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her brother, Anthony Castaldo.

Mary grew up in Garwood, New Jersey.  She met and married the love of her life, Robert Higgins in 1952.  The young couple moved to Holden with their young family in 1977 and became a part of the community. Robert built their home in Sterling and they moved there in 1977. Mary began working at Digital Equipment Corp. in Quality Control.  She was an active member at First Church of Sterling for many years and volunteered many hours in the church kitchen.  Mary will also be dearly missed by the many friends she leaves at the Sterling Senior Center where she was a devoted volunteer.  She was also a proud member of the Red Hat Society.  Mary enjoyed knitting, crocheting, traveling but she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren most.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a calling hour from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 24, 2107 at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling.  Burial will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, 217 Richards Ave., Paxton.