Sally McDowell

McDowell, Sally
Sally (Zariffey) Mahigel McDowell, age 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 following a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born on April 8, 1931 to Samuel Mahigel and Jeanette Lewis Majigel, she was raised in the South End of Bridgeport. Sally attended Lincoln School and Roosevelt School and was a proud member of Central High School, class of 1949. She married her high school sweetheart John "Mac" McDowell and they celebrated 50 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2001. Following high school, Sally worked in the Engineering Department of Sikorsky until she and John started their family. Although motherhood was always her first priority, Sally was hired at the law firm of Kennedy & Lyddy in Bridgeport when all of her children were in school. After the election of Probate Judge Raymond Lyddy, she became a loyal employee of the Bridgeport Probate Court, serving under Judge Lyddy and Judge Jonas Meyer until her retirement in May 1994. Sally was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield for over 60 years. She was a loving daughter, devoted wife, dedicated mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and achieved "favorite aunt" status to many of her nieces and nephews. Sally will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. Sally was predeceased by her husband John W. McDowell Jr.; her parents Samuel and Jeanette Lewis Mahigel; her step-mother Anna Mahigel; her parents-in-law John and Frances Turner McDowell; her brother Michael Mahigel and her sisters-and-brothers-in-law, Luis Avila, Toni Mahigel, Allen McDowell, Sandra McDowell, Nick and Hilda Farese, George and Bertha Seeger and Lillian and Al Mildner. She is survived by her children: John "Jack" McDowell, III and his wife Helene, Janet McDowell Finch and her husband Robert, Jean McDowell Cannata and her husband John and James S. McDowell Sr.; her grandchildren: Melissa McDowell Devaux and her husband Denis, Layla and John "Mackie" McDowell IV, Mallory, Emily and Sally Finch, John Cannata, Jr. and his fiancée Nicole Tenk, Natalie and Michael Cannata and James "Jamie" McDowell Jr.; her great-grandchildren Mya and Rocco; her sisters Mary Mahigel Avila and Elizabeth Kellie; her brother Dr. Elias Mahigel and his wife Barbara; sister-in-law Francesca Marina and Yuiko McDowell; brother-in-law Gazi Keklik and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to attend her Funeral on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield. Burial will be private. Friends may call on Thursday at the Larson Funeral Home, 2496 North Avenue, Bridgeport, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sally's memory may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 2475 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825.