Jean Vella Higgins, 81, wife of the late Raymond A. Higgins passed away June 8, 2012 in Meriden after a brief illness. She was born in Hamden, Sept. 16, 1930 a daughter of the late Norman and Vella Warner Corey and was a lifelong Hamden resident. Mother of Kathleen Reid of Wallingford, and her husband the late James Reid, Christine Grammatico and her husband Jay Grammatico of Wallingford, David Higgins and his wife Donna Higgins of Clinton, sister of Leslie N. Corey and his wife Dot Corey of North Haven, grandmother of James Reid, Maureen Acevedo, Robert Reid, Kristina, John, Angela, & Todd Grammatico, Justine, Brian & Kaitlyn Higgins, great- grandmother of Johannah & Natalee Reid, aunt of Leslie Corey, Jr. and his wife Bonnie Corey of AZ, Robin Keohane and her husband Peter Keohane of North Haven. Jean was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother and her family meant the world to her. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Jean's family at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 WHITNEY AVE., HAMDEN on Wednesday June 13, from 5:30 - 8 p.m. and attend a prayer service Thursday morning at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.