Maybelle Higgins DeBenedictis, died on November 28, she was 97 years old. Maybelle, also known as Jayne, Bunty, and Odessa lived in Mashpee MA.

Born in New York, NY, Bunty grew up in Newton, MA, in a home filled with musical instruments but her true love was acting and drawing.  For several summers she was an actress in summer stock theater. She met her husband, the late Robert Higgins, in a theater. Jayne and Bob raised their family in Bedford, MA.  While living in Bedford Jayne continued to act with the Bedford Community Players.  Many Christmas Eves you would have found Jayne applying makeup to dozens of Santa Clauses as they prepped with drivers and checkers getting ready to deliver Christmas Eve presents to children throughout Bedford.  After Bob's death Jayne married Rudy DeBenedictis, a childhood friend. They lived in Florida and Maine. Following Rudy's death in 2015 Jayne moved to Cape Cod.

Jayne is survived by her son, Paul Higgins and his wife, Sue of Barnstable, MA. Her son, Bill Higgins predeceased her, stepson, Peter and his wife, Joyce Thompson of Newbury MA. Bunty's brother, Randall Brownrigg and sister, Patricia Brownrigg predeceased her. Jayne was a stepmother to Robert, Janet (deceased) and Mark DeBenedictis. Jayne had three grandchildren, Sarah Higgins Lydick, Rebecca Higgins Bedard and Samuel Robinson Higgins and five step grandchildren, Jamie Lee DeBenedictis Spilane, Danielle DeBenedictis, Allison DeBenedictis Glover, Alisha Debenedictis Koenig and Alec DeBenedictis.  Jayne loved her family and especially enjoyed having her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Sadie, Kendall and Sutton visit and when that was not possible loved hearing about their activities and hobbies.

She enjoyed reading and when living in Florida and Maine loved to walk on the beach or simply enjoy a walk around the block.  Following the death of her son, Bill, Jayne was an active volunteer with Compassionate Friends, an organization providing friendship to those who had lost a son or daughter. Jayne loved to have fun and somehow acquired a manikin.  When friends arrived home from a vacation the manikin, named Tizzy Lish, would mysteriously appear dressed in some elaborate outfit on the friend's front lawn to welcome them home.

Graveside service at Shawsheen Cemetery, Shawsheen Rd., Bedford, on Friday, December 2, at 1:30 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Compassionate Friends at compassionatefriends.org.