GLENDA L. (HIGGINS) WHITMAN

WHITMAN, GLENDA L. (HIGGINS) 74, of West Greenwich, RI and formerly of Barnstable, MA, passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at the Westview Healthcare facility in West Warwick, RI. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 30 years, James F. Whitman in 2014. Born on Cape Cod, MA, she was the daughter of the late Edwin and Eunice (Long) Higgins.  She spent her youth in Dennisport and South Yarmouth, working at the Bambi Cottages that her father built, preparing them for the summer renters.  She graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School.  She was always around the sea.  Lobster by far was her favorite food, and she had a knack for cracking and finding every bit of meat, and could shuck any type of shellfish.  She was petite, but mighty, when it came to seafood!

Glenda was employed as a clerk in the Registry of Deeds office for Barnstable County for over 15 years. Earlier, her main role was "Mom and homemaker", working part time for the Barnstable School System in the Cafeteria, and as an aide on a special needs school bus.  As a young mother, married to her first husband Robert Johansen of Barnstable, MA, she doted on her daughters.  Making cookies, crafts, dressing up for theme vacations/camping trips, decorating for every holiday, and leaving a loving note each and every day.  

Glenda was proud to be born and raised on Cape Cod. She loved going to the beach and camping on Sandy Neck with her late husband Jim, friends and family. She would go Memorial day till well after Labor day, hating to have to come off the beach.  Spending days waking up in her camper by the sea, and having a campfire in the sand, were some of her most treasured times.  She also enjoyed spending many winters at her second home in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. She had a large collection of beach glass and shells, and her home decorations always included things that were coastal/beach related. 

She was the caring mother of Christine B. DeBlois and her husband Robert of West Greenwich, and Karen D. Sullivan and her husband Timothy of Amherst, NH, and the adoring grandmother of Molly and Abigail Sullivan. Her granddaughters were special gifts, and she loved them to the moon and back. They brought her great joy.   She was the stepmother of James Whitman and Tricia Kelley (and her husband Phil), both of Florida. Glenda was the sister of Cynthia Higgins of Virginia, Patricia Thorup of Orleans, MA, and Joan Bulley of Luddington, MI.  All of whom she had a special bond with.  Cindy, was her closest confidant and friend, and she shared a very special closeness that spanned many decades,  with Cindy's partner, Jane Grischkowsky.  Patty was a huge help to her as a young mother, when her first husband was in the Coast Guard, and Joan she would take for overnight visits to her home, as a child and her youngest sibling. Her brothers, James Higgins and Ed Higgins, she also loved deeply. Both predeceased Glenda.  Glenda loved hosting family Holidays and would cook, bake and host "way more people" than one would think could fit in her home.  The holidays were always extra special because of her. 

Per Glenda’s request, services will be private. Both Glenda's daughters, Chrissy and Karen, and her granddaughter, Molly, did volunteer work.  Glenda would love to hear the stories from the farm or shelter shenanigans.  In lieu of flowers, donations in her name, would be welcome to the those organizations.  Chrissy volunteers at the Pet Refuge 500 Stony Lane North Kingstown, RI  02852 petrefuge@verizon.net.  Karen & Molly volunteer at Educational Farm at Joppa Hill 174 Joppa Hill Road Bedford, NH 03110 info.EFJH@comcast.net  Arrangements are with the Iannotti Funeral Home at MAPLE ROOT, 2000 Nooseneck Hill Rd. in Coventry, RI.iannottifh.com

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