The Reverend Suzanne Parker Higgins, gifted teacher, minis­ter, chaplain, and pioneer, died peacefully on Friday, January 15, 2010, after a 15-year struggle with multiple medical conditions. She was 67.

She was descended from Captain John Parker, who led the mili­tia on Lexington Common the day the American Revolution began in 1775, and Richard Higgins, one of the founders of Eastham and Orleans on Cape Cod. Suzanne grew up in Manhasset, Long Island. She graduated from Manhasset High School. It was there she met her lifelong partner, soulmate, and husband of 44 years.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from Gouch­er College, at the time an all women’s college in Baltimore, Mary­land.

This special educational opportunity helped forge her pioneer­ing spirit and accomplishments as a young woman. Shortly before she married, she taught elementary school in Huntington, Long Island, and later in Monterey, California, while her husband was serving in Vietnam. While raising a young family, she attended Loyola College in Baltimore, where she earned a master’s degree in pastoral coun­seling. After moving to Easton, she earned a master’s of divinity degree with honors from Andover Newton Theological School and was ordained as a Protestant minister two years later.

She used this education to serve in a number of positions: a con­gregational minister, pastoral counselor, hospital chaplain, hospice volunteer, teacher and educator of children and young women.

A gifted preacher, she received a certificate for preaching excel­lence from Andover Newton Theological School. She was a longtime member and chaplain for the International Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood, Chapter Y out of Hingham.

As a young seminary student, she went far beyond her rigorous studies and formed a Single Parents Group in Easton. She led a church youth group and volunteered at The Old Colony Hospice. The Reverend Dr. Gordon Postill, the spiritual counselor at Old Colony Hospice, remarked, “She was a lady of remarkable grit and courage, and had a passion for life. Her love for her family was more than just evident; it shone from her being like a beacon.” Cel­ebrant Jenn Bete added: “Suzanne was constant beauty, grace, and compassion despite living for several years with health challenges we can’t begin to comprehend.” A passionate activist for justice and parity for women, she was a remarkable role model for her two daughters, Paige and Brooke. She initiated the first “Clergy Abuse” seminar series. A passionate advocate to prevent abuse of the female clergy, Reverend Suzanne crafted proposed legislation, and offered testimony at the State House in Boston. To the astonishment of the legislative staff, she arrived to testify on heavily swollen ankles, making it difficultto walk. This was the precursor to her kidney failure just weeks later. “My mom was a strong, independent woman who chose to focus on the quality of her life and her love for her friends and family,” Paige said.

“She was an amazing wife and mother and an exceptional ex­ample of pure tenacity, courage, and fearless endurance while bat­tling her many medical challenges,” one of her many attending physicians said. “Because of my mom’s illnesses, I rediscovered who she truly was for me and for others — amazing,” Brooke said. “She exemplified the same persistence in everything she did, always seeking to excel, not compete. To her, no one lost when she did her best,” said her husband Craig.

For the last 15 years, “Suzy,” as she was known by family and close friends, was beset with multiple medical problems and got to know a wide array of providers in the medical community. Scott Bortman, her primary physician, said, “I met her at the CGSMC when she was the Protestant chaplain there and was struck by how she was with patients: for them, and a healing part of their struggle, no matter the outcome.”

Parishioners would regularly praise her sermons for touching the heart and soul. Former members of her congregation, Michael and Sue Coleman, said of her: “Suzanne radiated a genuineness and compassion that few people possess. We always felt very val­ued

when in her presence. She was a talented preacher, a mentor, a friend. She faced a challenge not with ‘why me’ but with a determi­nation to get through the situation with grace.” Longtime close friends Pete and Jan Petri described her in this way: “Sue was a critical thinker, interested in the larger questions in life, thoughtful in her approach to those questions and accepting of all points of view. She was the best of friends because she was a good listener, nonjudgmental and always loving.”

She leaves her husband Craig of Easton; her two daughters, Paige Higgins Souza of Norfolk and Brooke Parker Higgins of Cali­fornia; a brother, H. Scott Higgins of Connecticut; a sister, Ruthel­len (Kiki) Sanders of New Hampshire; and multiple nieces and nephews.

A private service is be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Polycystic Kid­ney Foundation, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 400, Kansas City, Mis­souri 64114, in the name of Reverend Suzanne P. Higgins.