Beth Ellen Higgins

Beth Ellen Higgins, 69, passed away on Thursday, October 2, 2025 after a long battle with lung cancer. She fought hard for over two years with help from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and is now finally at peace.

Beth leaves behind her loving children Michael (wife Ashley), Meghan, John and Colleen O’Shea, her beautiful grandchildren Garrett, Caitlin, Jack, Alayah and Finn and her beloved dog Brady. She also leaves behind her sister Laurie and brother Barry (wife Linda) as well as her nieces and nephew. She was predeceased by her sister Janice and her parents. She was cared for in her final days by the special staff at McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich MA.

Beth was born on October 9, 1955, to Melva (Graham) and George Higgins of Woburn, MA. Her father was a teacher, and moved their family to Swampscott MA, where Beth graduated Swampscott High School class of 1973. She met her first husband, Brian O’Shea while working at the General Glover House restaurant. The two lived in Lynn MA for many years raising their family.

In 1999 Beth moved with her children to Cape Cod. Her son Michael bought her a camera as a gift, which inspired Beth to enroll in her first photography class. Photography became a new career path for her and quickly developed into her passion. She loved exploring the Cape and shooting her favorite beaches in natural light, it’s where she found peace. The artists she met through the many art festivals, working at The Shanties at Hyannis Harbor and the Collections Gallery in Sandwich became a strong community of trusted confidants and special friends.

Beth loved to laugh and had a way to find the humor in any situation. She was at her happiest when she was laughing at something off-color with her kids or listening to one of her grandkids share a story. Beth or Gram, as she was later known, flourished in her role of grandmother; playing baseball in the back yard for hours, coming up with art projects to work on or singing silly songs with the kids. She loved having her house filled with kids.

She had an incredible circle of friends who she cherished, many of whom she knew for over 50 years. Beth was known for her infectious laugh and was adored for the kindness she shared with everyone she met. She made new friends at every stage of life and those friendships only strengthened after her diagnosis. In her last few months she often said she didn’t mind the constant appointments because it gave her the time to see and catch up with her long distance and life-long friends.

We will be forever grateful for all those who showed up for her during her time of need. She was very loved and will be missed greatly.

A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 am, Friday, October 10th where her family will gather on the lawn at the Hyannis Harbor for a remembrance. A luncheon will follow immediately after at the Black Cat Tavern in Hyannis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod to support the Shanties at Hyannis Harbor at artsfoundation.org.