Eileen McGrath Higgins, 70, of Martinsville, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, NJ. Born in Plainfield on August 31, 1954, she grew up there and later lived in North Plainfield before moving to Martinsville twenty-seven years ago.

Eileen earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from what is today Rowan University (formerly Glassboro State College). Her compassion and dedication led her to teach  for many years in the North Plainfield elementary schools. After marrying and beginning her family, she scaled back to work part-time at the Giving Nest Nursery School so she could devote time to raising her sons. As they grew, she stayed connected to the classroom as a substitute teacher in the Bridgewater-Raritan school system.

She was an active member of both Wilson Memorial Union Church in Watchung and Pilgrim Congregational Church in Warren. She also participated in the International Council of Community Churches (ICCC), an ecumenical Protestant denomination focused on unity and cooperation among Christian churches. She faithfully attended its annual international chapter conventions. Eileen was a union representative for substitute teachers and was a member of P.E.O. International—a philanthropic educational organization dedicated to advancing women through scholarships and educational programs.

Eileen cherished her family above all. She is survived by her sons, Patrick and Timothy; her sister Patricia McGrath Branch (Nicholas) of Burlington VT;  and her brother Edward T. McGrath, Jr. (Julie) of Dummerston VT. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Higgins, in 2024, her brother Donald McGrath, and her parents, Alice and Edward T. McGrath, Sr.

Eileen loved traveling, visiting every U.S. state except three, and most recently made fond memories with dear friends, the Seidel family, in the Thousand Islands. She adored ice cream and watching the New York Yankees.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at The Wilson Memorial Church in Watchung at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Eileen’s name to Wilson Memorial Church in Watchung, Pilgrim Congregational Church in Warrant, or the Center for Hope Hospice in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where Eileen and her family received excellent and loving care.