Paul R. Higginbottom
March 29, 1936 ~ June 27, 2020 (age 84) 84 Years Old
Tribute
Paul R. “Higgie” Higginbottom of Methuen, MA, passed peacefully from this world on Saturday, June 27, 2020.
The seventh son of Joseph Samuel and Mary (Byrne) Higginbottom of Lawrence, MA, Paul was the last of the original Park Street Higginbottom Boys. Fiercely proud of his Irish-American heritage and his humble upbringing, Paul learned some of life’s most important lessons on the streets of Lawrence, such as treating others fairly, and out of necessity, how to always “hustle a buck.” He graduated Central Catholic High School in 1954 and was the last Affiliate of the Marist Order, developing close ties with many of the Order’s Brothers.
In the summer of 1960, Paul met the love of his life, Lorraine L. Davis, at Hampton Beach and they were married in 1961. He found his calling in caring for others and worked as an orderly at Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen before training as a nurse at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Soldiers Home in Chelsea. There he cared for veterans from many conflicts, ranging from the Mexican Expedition through Vietnam. Paul advanced through various positions there eventually becoming the Night Administrator until health issues forced an early retirement. He continued to serve others after his retirement in many capacities such as a Justice of the Peace as well as serving on the Housing Commissions in both Methuen and Andover.
Paul developed a lifelong interest in real estate, during which he was always a friend to the independent tradesmen and handyman. However, his greatest love and passion was his three sons, Mark, Michael, and Edward Higginbottom, and their children. He dedicated his life to ensuring that they and their children, Patrick, Brendan, Lauren, Ryan, Ella, and Conor, grew into men and women of character and compassion of whom his own parents would be proud. His standing mottos were, “A man is only as good as his word,” and “Your good name is the only thing that you take to the grave.”
In addition to his parents, Paul is predeceased by his brothers, Joseph “Joe,” Bernard “Buddy,” Francis “Dede,” Laurence “Larry,” John “Hot Dog,” and James “Jimmy.”
Paul is survived by his wife, Lorraine L. (Davis) Higginbottom; sons, Mark Higginbottom of Andover, Michael Higginbottom and his wife, Catherine (Rossbach) of Leavenworth, KS, and Edward Higginbottom and his wife, Rachel (Salzillo) of Windham, NH; his six adored grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service for Paul at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen.
In lieu of flowers, the Higginbottom family requests a simple act of kindness for a stranger as Paul was always ready to help a friend, even one he had never met before.
The seventh son of Joseph Samuel and Mary (Byrne) Higginbottom of Lawrence, MA, Paul was the last of the original Park Street Higginbottom Boys. Fiercely proud of his Irish-American heritage and his humble upbringing, Paul learned some of life’s most important lessons on the streets of Lawrence, such as treating others fairly, and out of necessity, how to always “hustle a buck.” He graduated Central Catholic High School in 1954 and was the last Affiliate of the Marist Order, developing close ties with many of the Order’s Brothers.
In the summer of 1960, Paul met the love of his life, Lorraine L. Davis, at Hampton Beach and they were married in 1961. He found his calling in caring for others and worked as an orderly at Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen before training as a nurse at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Soldiers Home in Chelsea. There he cared for veterans from many conflicts, ranging from the Mexican Expedition through Vietnam. Paul advanced through various positions there eventually becoming the Night Administrator until health issues forced an early retirement. He continued to serve others after his retirement in many capacities such as a Justice of the Peace as well as serving on the Housing Commissions in both Methuen and Andover.
Paul developed a lifelong interest in real estate, during which he was always a friend to the independent tradesmen and handyman. However, his greatest love and passion was his three sons, Mark, Michael, and Edward Higginbottom, and their children. He dedicated his life to ensuring that they and their children, Patrick, Brendan, Lauren, Ryan, Ella, and Conor, grew into men and women of character and compassion of whom his own parents would be proud. His standing mottos were, “A man is only as good as his word,” and “Your good name is the only thing that you take to the grave.”
In addition to his parents, Paul is predeceased by his brothers, Joseph “Joe,” Bernard “Buddy,” Francis “Dede,” Laurence “Larry,” John “Hot Dog,” and James “Jimmy.”
Paul is survived by his wife, Lorraine L. (Davis) Higginbottom; sons, Mark Higginbottom of Andover, Michael Higginbottom and his wife, Catherine (Rossbach) of Leavenworth, KS, and Edward Higginbottom and his wife, Rachel (Salzillo) of Windham, NH; his six adored grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service for Paul at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 2, 2020, at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen.
In lieu of flowers, the Higginbottom family requests a simple act of kindness for a stranger as Paul was always ready to help a friend, even one he had never met before.
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