RITA J. HIGGINS, 82

YOUNGSTOWN -- Services will be at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday at McVean & amp; Hughes Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. in St. Christine Church for Rita J. Higgins, 82, of 2837 Peacock Drive, who died early Sunday in St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Mrs. Higgins was born Jan. 12, 1919, in Youngstown, a daughter of John A. and Hannah Newell Sullivan, and was a lifelong area resident.
She was a sanctuary and floral decorator for St. Christine Church for 25 years before retiring in 1993, and she had been president and vice-president of its decorating department. She had also worked for McKelvey's and Strouss' department stores.
She was a member of the church, its Altar Guild, its Infant Jesus of Prague Guild, Our Lady of Fatima Garden Club and the Garden Club of Ohio.
Her first husband, Edgar F. Higgins, whom she married Nov. 21, 1940, died Aug. 22, 1989.
Besides her husband, Joseph Tevis, whom she married Aug. 15, 1992, she leaves three sons, John F. Higgins of Latrobe, Pa., Edward J. Higgins of Cincinnati and Timothy P. Higgins of Belleville, Mich.; two sisters, Katherine Willison and Mary Audrey Mahon, both of Youngstown; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Three brothers, John L., James E. and J. Paul Sullivan; two sisters, Florence Dalbey and Virginia Carney; and a grandson are deceased.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
4/24/01