Diane Louise Higgins

Diane Louise Higgins, 74, of Auburn, Maine, passed away on March 22, 2026, after a brief
illness.
She was born in Portland, Maine, on January 3, 1952, to Theodore and Norma Higgins. Diane
graduated from Gray-New Gloucester High School in 1970 and attended Andover College,
graduating in 1972. In her early years, she held many jobs, including switchboard operator at
Pineland Center and waitress at The Galley and Cole Farms.
Diane married Robert B. Vyr in 1973, and they lived in Gray and Lewiston.
Diane retired from the Maine Department of Human Services after 36 years of service. After
retiring, she stayed active in her church, the Grange, and the Red Hat Society, and she enjoyed
kayaking and spending time at the seashore. Diane was always ready to help—whether by
driving friends or neighbors to appointments and errands, or to church and community events.
Diane’s love of theater and music began with her grandparents, Lee and Louisa Bishop, who
took her to plays and shows when she was young. She later enjoyed many live performances,
crisscrossing the state to experience Maine summer theatre and traveling to Broadway shows
in New York City.
While Diane had no children of her own, her siblings, nieces, and nephews were frequent
recipients of her love, kindness, and generosity. She rarely attended a family gathering without
bringing toys or gifts for the children. Even as they grew older, “Aunt Dee Dee” remained a
joyful, supportive presence in their lives. As the eldest, Diane always looked out for her younger
brothers—“her boys”—and even worried about who would care for them when she started
school.
Diane was predeceased by her parents and grandparents. She is survived by her brother Chris
and his wife, Karen, of Longview, Texas; her brother Michael and his wife, Judy, of East
Boothbay, Maine; her brother Mark and his wife, Nance, of Gray, Maine; her sister, Lisa, of
Casco, Maine; and her brother Eric and his partner, Steve Garcia, of South Portland, Maine. She
is also survived by her maternal aunt, Jeannette Fox, of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; nine nieces
and nephews; 20 great-nieces and great-nephews; and many friends.
A private memorial service will be held in the summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gray Congregational Church in Gray, Maine, or
Andwell Health Partners in Lewiston, Maine.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Diane Louise Higgins, please visit our floral store.