Robert A. Downey

Robert A. Downey, Requiescat in Pace, 82, died Saturday June 30th in Jupiter, FL after a long battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Loving dad to the Reverend David C. Downey, of St. Peter Catholic Church, Jupiter, FL. Beloved husband of forty years to the late Mary Kinalski Downey of Chicago, and since 1999 to Jo'an Vanderford Downey of Lincoln, Nebraska. Also preceded in death by his parents and his brothers of Rhode Island. He leaves to cherish his memory his family and life-long friends in Rhode Island, and his good neighbors and friends of thirty-five years in South Holland, IL, as well as his late wife Mary's family and their friends in the Chicago-land area. Born in Westerly, RI he was a U.S. Navy WWII Veteran, a 1950 Graduate of the University Of Rhode Island College Of Engineering, a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity and he played for the URI Baseball Team. He worked for the B&O Railroad, mostly in Chicago, retiring in 1987. Bob and Mary loved to travel. He was an avid gardener and die-hard St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan. After retirement, Bob devoted three days a week to tutoring inner-city children in Math and Science with the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bob was a daily communicant at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, in South Holland, IL. He and his wife Mary were founding members of the Parish in 1962. Bob also volunteered with the ministry of Mother Teresa's Sisters in Chicago. Funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday July 7th at St. Peter Catholic Church, 1701 Indian Creek Pkwy., Jupiter, FL 33458. Final Commendation Prayers will take place Tuesday July 10th in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel at the Mausoleum of Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Justice, IL with interment to follow immediately in the family plot. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the St. Peter Catholic Church Building Fund appreciated.