Mary L. Downey, 86, of Dartmouth, formerly of New Bedford, died unexpectedly November 6, 2012 at Autumn Glen Assisted Living.
Born in New Bedford on November 8, 1925, the daughter of the late Attorney William S. and Marie A. (Jackson) Downey, she was raised in New Bedford and had resided in Boston for 25 years before returning to New Bedford to live with her mother in 1971. For the past four years she had resided at Autumn Glen which she thoroughly enjoyed and where she made many friendships with the residents and staff.
She was a lifelong communicant of St. Lawrence Church.
Mary graduated from Holy Family High School, Class of 1942 and Emmanuel College, Class of 1946. She worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Insurance Division and New England Mutual Life Insurance Company as an actuary. In 1971, Mary returned to New Bedford from Boston to become an administrative assistant at Saunders Funeral Home which had recently been established by her brother-in-law, Richard T. Saunders. She retired in 1987.
She was a member of the College Club of New Bedford.
Survivors include her sister, Anne D. Saunders, M.D. of Fairhaven; her sister-in-law, Anne M. (Harrington) Downey of Mattapoisett; and many nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Atty. Maurice F. Downey who passed away November 5, 2012, and William S. Downey, Jr., M.D.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 9th at 10 AM in St. Lawrence Church. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, November 8th from 3-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Route 6), Mattapoisett. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the St. Lawrence Church Bell Tower Fund, 110 Summer St., New Bedford, MA 02740.