LACONIA - Arline Laura Downing, 88, of Bishop Bradley Apartments at 406 Court Street, formerly a longtime resident of 36 Dixon Street, died Thursday, January 12, 2017 in Laconia in a motor vehicle accident.
She was born on July 18, 1928 in Laconia, the daughter of the late Harry E. and Mary (Smith) Downing. Arline worked for many years as an Administrative Assistant for the State of New Hampshire - Welfare Department. She also worked as an Administrative Assistant to the Superintendant at the former Laconia State School. Arline was a longtime communicant of St. Andre Bessette - St. Joseph Church in Laconia where she was a member of the Ladies Guild and a member of the Catholic Daughters. A woman of great faith, Arline enjoyed many trips to various shrines in the Northeast and in Canada. She also enjoyed Saturday “road trips” with family and friends, knitting and going out to eat, especially to her favorite restaurant, Sawyers, to enjoy a lobster roll. Those who knew her loved her sense of humor. Always known as a jokester, she would enjoy teasing people, and would often introduce herself to others as “Trouble”. She was known as being more like a grandmother to her great nieces and nephews.
She is survived by her two nieces; Patricia Ann Smith and her husband Gerard of Penacook and Maureen Trimper and her husband Christopher of Merrimack, four grand nieces and grand nephews, and several close friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by one brother, William Russell Downing in 1990 and one sister, Mary F. Hutton in 2012.
Calling hours will be held from 8:30AM to 10:30AM on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, using the Carriage House entrance.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at St. Andre Bessette Parish -St. Joseph Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia.
Burial will be held in the spring in the family plot at St. Lambert Cemetery in Laconia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Rehabilitation & Nursing Center-Recreation Fund, 406 Court St Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.