OBITUARY: Doris Biggs Cunningham, 93

Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:

WILMINGTON, MA — Doris Biggs Cunningham, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Wilmington MA, on June 17, 2023. She is predeceased by her husband Francis T. Cunningham. Doris is survived by her son Shaun W. Cunningham (Colleen), grandson Kyle and son Brian T. Cunningham all of Wilmington as well as daughter Victoria from Boston and many nieces and nephews.

Doris Biggs Cunningham was born in New Bedford, MA, on September 6, 1929 to William Biggs and Anne (MacKenzie) Biggs. After graduating from Somerville High School, she studied at the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing and received her diploma in June of 1950. Further study earned her a Diploma from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary as well as a Coronary Care Nursing diploma from Charles Choate Memorial Hospital in 1971. While at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, she completed training as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in July 1976.

She began her career in 1950 as an Assistant Head Nurse in the Overnight Ward at Massachusetts General Hospital. By the mid-50s she was at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary working on Contagious Disease as well as the X-ray Department. She returned to Mass General Hospital in 1968 and continued working in the Medical ICU until 1974. Doris worked for two years as a Somerville Visiting Nurse before settling in at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital as an Adult Nurse Practitioner for the remaining years of her career. She worked Evening Emergency Triage and was Physician back-up for the Emergency room.

Doris was a lifelong ardent advocate of animal welfare; in lieu of flowers, please send donations to PAWS 411 Lowell St., Wakefield, MA 01880.

Doris’ family will be receiving people at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, on Friday, June 23rd from 12:00-1:00 p.m. followed by a Service to Celebrate her life at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington, MA.