Shirley J. Downing

Shirley Downing (nee O'Brien) passed away on Friday, May 30, 2014 after a brief illness. She was a loving mother, friend, confidant and sister. She was born August 19, 1930 in Lowell, MA and grew up in Worcester, MA. She married Ronald E. Downing in 1955. She moved to Shrewsbury, MA with her husband where they started and raised their family. She worked as a bookkeeper at American Supply Company in Worcester, MA for 20 years. She moved to California in 2001 and settled in Novato to be near family and friends. She loved to shop, especially at Lord & Taylor. She loved animals, including her adopted granddogs Bosco, Tasha, Jarra, Mango and MeiMei. She was predeceased by her husband, Ronald, her parents, Frederick and Alice O'Brien, her brothers, James E. O'Brien and Paul S. (O'Brien) Edwards and her niece, Patricia L. Petersen. She is survived by her sons, Ronald Downing and son-in-law Louis Ewens, of Novato, CA and Stephen and Marianne Downing of Reading, MA; her sister, Connie Brown of Williamsburg, VA; her sister-in-law Paula Edwards of Worcester, MA; her grandchildren, Patrick Downing and Lauren Downing, both of Reading, MA; her nephews Raymond Brown of Williamsburg, VA, Jeffrey Edwards of New York City, NY and Mitchell Edwards of Los Angeles, CA; and her nieces Debbie Austin of Williamsburg, VA and Shelly Schweizer of Ashland, MA. She leaves behind a host of other nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 1:00 to 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, 850 Keokuk Street, Petaluma, CA. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 6, 2014 at 12:00 PM at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1000 Cambridge Street, Novato, CA with burial to follow at Fernwood Cemetery, 301 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley, CA. Family assisted by PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY.