Althea M. (Steigerwalt) Higgins, age 87, formerly of Lake Hauto, Nesquehoning, passed on to her Heavenly Home on April 3, 2026 with her beloved family by her side. She was the widow of Louis Higgins, Jr. who passed away in 2019.

Born in Andreas, PA, on May 16, 1938, she was a daughter of the late Peter E. & Grace L. (Andreas) Steigerwalt.

She graduated from Lehighton High School and was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Nesquehoning until it closed in 2019. After graduation, she went to work for the U.S. Navy in Washington, DC as a clerk stenographer. After returning home, she worked for Prudential Insurance Co. in Lehighton where she met and married her husband, Lou. They had a wonderful life together for 61 years before his passing. She shared her skills with several local employers over the years, including KaiJay Pants Co., the Panther Valley School District, and the Borough of Nesquehoning, where she served in clerical, payroll and bookkeeper roles. When she retired for the final time in 2015, she became a devoted caretaker to the love of her life, Lou. She also volunteered her time and talents as bookkeeper and secretary for the Slovak Protestant Cemetery in Nesquehoning.

Surviving are three sons, Louis III (Marian) of Newtown, Gary L. (Trisha) of Andreas, and Steven (Adrienne) of Milford, MA; seven grandchildren, Sarah, Meghan, Jeremy, Gary E., Kaitlin(Koby) Pyrz, Jordan and Devon, and one great granddaughter, Wyatt Mabry Pyrz. She was predeceased by a baby sister, Dianna Steigerwalt, and brother, Donald Stegierwalt. She is survived by her siblings Joyce Kupres, Marilyn Reichard, and Gerald Steigerwalt.

Funeral services for Althea will be held on Saturday, April 11th at 12:00 p.m. at the Bruce A. Nalesnik Funeral Home, 57 W. Center St, Nesquehoning, with the Rev. Marjorie Keiter officiating. Interment to follow at Sky View Memorial Park, Hometown. Friends and family are invited to pay their respects and celebrate Althea’s life during a visitation at the Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Saturday at the Funeral Home. Contributions in her name may be made to the Lou & Althea Higgins Memorial Fund, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, 840 West Hamilton Street, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18101 or at https://bit.ly/HigginsMemorialFund. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.nalesnikfh.com. Services and arrangements have been placed in the care of the Bruce A. Nalesnik Funeral Home, 57 West Center St., Nesquehoning PA 18240.

Please highlight and right-click on the link below to make a contribution:

https://bit.ly/HigginsMemorialFund