Obituary of Lynne Higgins

LYNNE HIGGINS October 18, 1956 - April 12, 2017 Lynne Higgins – not "Sharon," not "Lynn" – but LYNNE Higgins passed away April 12, 2017 surrounded by her family, after a months-long battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Al Peters, her sons Charlie and David Peters, her sister Diane Higgins of Saskatoon, her brothers Croft Campbell-Higgins of Toronto and Doug (Rose) Higgins of Regina, as well as her niece Kimberley Higgins and nephews Jordan and Aaron Higgins, all of Regina. Lynne was born on October 18, 1956 in Saskatoon. She attended Lorne Haselton Elementary and Walter Murray Collegiate before graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, the second woman ever to do so. Ever the pioneer, she was also among the first female officers in the Canadian Naval Reserve. Lynne served at HMCS Unicorn in Saskatoon for 20 years. It was something of a second home, and she maintained a relationship with the unit and ship's company for many years after retiring from active service. The Navy also introduced her to Al Peters, her husband of 33 years. The two met at a training exercise in Sept-Îles, Quebec, and married on July 9, 1983. Saskatoon was home until her passing. Always strong and independent, the newly married "Lynne Peters" – as she was known only briefly after her wedding – legally reverted to her maiden name, defying convention at the time. Lynne gave birth to twin boys on December 29, 1990. Lynne was passionate about travel. Whether going to one of Canada's coasts for naval training or spending time criss-crossing the country with Al and her boys in their cherished motorhome, she loved seeing new places. She was happiest, however, when the motorhome was parked at Waskesiu Lake, where she and her siblings spent much time growing up and generations of her family visited to rest and relax. Later in life, she and Al began taking cruises in the Caribbean, catering to her love of the sea. Lynne's life was also focused on serving others. A self-described "meeting person," she volunteered time by serving on boards and committees with various organizations including The Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan, The Saskatoon Engineering Society, The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering, Saskatoon City Hall Middle Management Society, Saskatoon Scottish Country Dancers, and on both the Board and Outreach Committee of her beloved McClure United Church. Lynne's hands were rarely idle. It was normal for her to conduct a conversation while simultaneously knitting or sewing. She always had a project on the go and also spent much of her time quilting, Scottish country dancing, attending concerts and plays, and reading. In August, 2016, mere weeks after returning from a trip to Europe with Al and her sons, she was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. Although she remained determined and optimistic, nothing was able to contain the cancer's spread. It was Lynne's wish that our focus at this time be on "a life well-lived" rather than her passing. In this spirit, she asked for bright and lively colours to be worn at her funeral.