Josephine (Jo) Downey departed this earthly life on March 31 , 2023. Funeral arrangements have been made at St. Raphael the Arch Angel Church in Raleigh for April 14th at 12:30pm.

Jo leaves us to rejoin her parents Nicholas and Katherine Arace, her sister Mary Anne Mackey, brother Joseph Arace and to reunite with her beloved husband of 69 years, Walter Joseph Downey Jr.

She is survived by her brother Pat Arace (Marylin) and her five children; Michael Walter Downey, John Nicholas Downey (Jean), Katherine Downey Betancourt (Einar), Karen Louise Merritt, and Kevin Robert Downey. She was intensely involved with her 11 grandchildren and delighted in her nine great grandchildren.

Born in Newark New Jersey in 1934, she graduated from Montclair High School in 1951. She entered into Holy Matrimony on June 6th of 1952. Her youngest siblings would scarcely remember a time before Jo and Walt’s love and commitment. Her husband’s work led to relocation in Raleigh NC. She lived in her home on Shelley Rd. for over fifty years. Re-entering the workforce as her children grew, she worked as the Credit Manager at JC Penney’s, a position she held for 15 years. Leaving retail, she became the Pastoral Assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for another ten years. She shared her faith with her community by teaching RCIA . An enthusiastic lifetime learner, after retirement she became a Docent at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

In 2018 Jo left her home in Raleigh to live with her daughter Karen in Wendell. She had developed health problems and her husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She joined St. Eugene’s Catholic Church and enjoyed parish life participating in Bible study class and attending Mass. She took Tai Chi and played cards with friends at the East Wake Senior Center.

Finally, Jo’s husband’s decline required he enter a memory care facility. They moved together into an assisted living facility in Wake Forest. Jo made dear friends, donated books to and maintained the library there. She led a Bible study group for her new community. Sadly, Walter passed away and she left to live with her son John and his wife Jean in Greensboro. Her last day was spent at her great granddaughter’s birthday party. That evening an aortic aneurism ended her journey among us.

Ultimately Jo’s story is a love story, love of God, family and friends, love of books, learning, politics and even football. She will be sorely missed by those whom she has left and joyfully received by her loved ones who went before.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association