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Florence Higgins, 86

by | May 3, 2025 | Obituaries

Florence Higgins

Florence Higgins

Florence (Stone) Higgins, 86, of Hopkinton passed away May 1 after a period of declining health. Born in Ashland, she was the daughter of the late Myron and Alice (Burton) Stone and wife of the late Robert Higgins Sr., who died in 2014. Florence worked as a cook for the Hopkinton school system for many years. In addition, she was active in Hopkinton PolyArts, often taking part in its yearly arts festival. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting, especially creating blankets and clothing for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She especially loved spending time with her family and friends, gathering together as often as she could to laugh, play and catch up.

Florence is survived by two daughters, Sheryl Gallant and husband Thomas of Holliston, and Ann Marie Zambesi and husband Steven of St. Marys, Georgia; four grandchildren, Matthew, Janet, Christopher and Michelle; four great-grandchildren, Mason, Jordan, Austin and Caelyn; and her sister Linda Stone. She was the mother of the late Robert Higgins Jr and sister to the late Elaine Peterson and the late Ronald “Hank” Stone.

A funeral service will be celebrated Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, Ashland, with burial to follow in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland. Visiting hours will be held from 9-10:30 a.m., prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hopkinton Emergency Fund, P.O. Box 44, Hopkinton, MA  01748.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.

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