IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William Francis
Downes
September 28, 1932 – July 7, 2018
Obituary
Williams Francis Downes, Bill to his family and friends, peacefully passed into heaven from a stroke on July 7th, 2018 at the age of 85 years in Laguna Woods, California. Bill was born in Lynn Massachusetts, the only child of Frank and Anita Downes. Bill excelled academically and athletically at St. Mary's High School in Lynn and went on to achieve several advanced college degrees.
He enjoyed traveling, skiing, ice skating, reading, music, especially opera, and following his favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Later in life, Bill achieved a Masters in Taxation ten years after retiring from working at MIT in Boston. He then went on to work for H&R Block for 20 years and worked in Security in Norwood Massachusetts. Everywhere he went, Bill made friends. He had a quiet way about him, with a generous & kind personality that radiated out to everyone. If there was someone who needed help, whether it was working out a problem with the IRS, or just about anything else, they knew where to go. Bill never refused to help anyone, never expecting or wanting anything in return.
Bill was blessed with a lovely voice and enjoyed singing in our church choir for over 20 years, mostly in Massachusetts, but also here in California. One of his favorite activities was singing in Saddleback Emeritus Chorale and being a member of the Ukelele Club here in Laguna Woods.
Bill leaves his loving family, his beloved wife Roseann, his children Michael, Marianne, Karen her husband Edward, Timothy and his wife Amy, also six greatly adored grandchildren, Kayla, Jack, Meredith, Jennifer, Andrew, and Ava, all whom gave him so much joy. Bill will be dearly missed.
There will be a 9 am Funeral Mass celebrating Bill's life at St. Nicholas Church in Laguna Woods on July 27th.
Special love and thanks go out to members of the Fitzgerald, McEvoy, Boyle and Callahan families, the Laguna Woods Ukelele Club members, St. Nicholas Church and his dear friends in Massachusetts and here in California.
In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
He enjoyed traveling, skiing, ice skating, reading, music, especially opera, and following his favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Later in life, Bill achieved a Masters in Taxation ten years after retiring from working at MIT in Boston. He then went on to work for H&R Block for 20 years and worked in Security in Norwood Massachusetts. Everywhere he went, Bill made friends. He had a quiet way about him, with a generous & kind personality that radiated out to everyone. If there was someone who needed help, whether it was working out a problem with the IRS, or just about anything else, they knew where to go. Bill never refused to help anyone, never expecting or wanting anything in return.
Bill was blessed with a lovely voice and enjoyed singing in our church choir for over 20 years, mostly in Massachusetts, but also here in California. One of his favorite activities was singing in Saddleback Emeritus Chorale and being a member of the Ukelele Club here in Laguna Woods.
Bill leaves his loving family, his beloved wife Roseann, his children Michael, Marianne, Karen her husband Edward, Timothy and his wife Amy, also six greatly adored grandchildren, Kayla, Jack, Meredith, Jennifer, Andrew, and Ava, all whom gave him so much joy. Bill will be dearly missed.
There will be a 9 am Funeral Mass celebrating Bill's life at St. Nicholas Church in Laguna Woods on July 27th.
Special love and thanks go out to members of the Fitzgerald, McEvoy, Boyle and Callahan families, the Laguna Woods Ukelele Club members, St. Nicholas Church and his dear friends in Massachusetts and here in California.
In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Francis Downes, please visit our flower store.
Services
Funeral Mass
July
27
St. Nicholas Catholic Church
Starts at 9:00 am
William Francis Downes's Guestbook
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