Obituary of Marguerite Downes

CHESHIRE - Marguerite "Margo" Downes, a fifty year resident of Cheshire, faded away with Alzheimer's disease to eternal life on Monday January 16, 2012 at the Village at Kensington Place in Meriden. Margo was born to Dr. Samuel and Merilda Benoit on June 21, 1922, in Gardener Mass. She graduated from Leominster High School in 1939 and the University of Vermont in 1943. A product of the depression and World War II, Margo learned thrift and practiced sacrificial living. Family was the focus of her life. Margo loved unconditionally and provided unlimited opportunities for her children to develop. Before children, she was an administrative assistant in law firms and insurance offices, but most of her life she was a homemaker. She was an accomplished cook and baker and loved to knit, sew, and play bridge. Margo was a voracious reader and particularly focused on history and biographies of historical figures. She had an insatiable curiosity about the world which led her to travel throughout the U.S. and globally. After her children were grown she volunteered at the Cheshire Public Library, Gaylord and became very involved with Al-Anon on the state level. She is mourned and survived by her four children, Stephen Downes and his wife Casey of Cheshire, David Downes of Wallingford, Anne Downes and her spouse Laurie McDermott of Saratoga Springs, NY and Sarah Downes and her husband Dr. Steve Wadsworth of Enosburg Falls, Vermont and her six grandchildren Edward, Brian, and Kevin Downes, Alexandria St. George, Brendan and Elyse Wadsworth and a wide circle of friends. She is predeceased by her husband Attorney Edward Downes (1991), her first husband Nelson Simmons, who died in WWII (1945), her parents, her sister Paulette and brother Laval. The family would like to thank the staff at The Village at Kensington Place; Barbara Graham and VITAS Hospice for all of their help and support during her long illness. Arrangements - Funeral services will be held on Saturday 11:45 from the Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St. to St. Bridget Church for Mass at 12:30 p.m. Burial will follow in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cheshire Community Food Pantry, P.O. Box 457, Cheshire, CT 06410 or to VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, 1579 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT, 06762.