Rita Downie

Rita Downie, 86, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 11, 2017. She passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by loving family members.

Rita was born February 9, 1931 in Youngstown, the daughter of the late Walter and Marie (Krauss) Rauch.

She graduated from Chaney High School, where she met the love of her life, Doug. While the Korean War separated them by miles, their love remained strong and they were married in 1950. Doug's pursuit of a graduate degree at The Ohio State University found them in Columbus where she was employed as a transcriptionist for Battelle Memorial Institute. While in Columbus, they were blessed with the birth of their first child. Upon graduation, they relocated their young family back to their hometown of Youngstown. Rita was a gifted mother and homemaker for her husband and five children. Throughout her life, Rita pursued excellence in a wide variety of creative endeavors, including cooking, baking, gardening, painting, sewing and cake decorating. She also enjoyed jazz and choral music, and sang with school and church choirs, as well as participating in a neighborhood dance club. In her later years, her artwork garnered critical recognition at area adjudicated art shows. Friendships were very important to Rita, who with her closest high school friends, formed a social club known as "The Club" which met regularly for cards, food and laughter. She later returned to the workforce as a typist with Alex Downie & Sons Co.



She and her husband shared a love of jazz music and saw many jazz greats in concert. They enjoyed traveling with good friends.

She is survived by her five children, Janice (Edward) Szari of Canfield, Douglas (Lori) Downie, Jr. of Canton, Keith (Christine Kalhoun) Downie of Austintown, Barbara (Robert) Friedman of Powell, and Paul Downie of Canfield; her seven grandchildren, Jason, Lucas and Jared Szari, Scott and Sarah Downie and Joel and Rachel Friedman; eight great-children, Ella, Emma, Luca, Selah, Tessa, Nico, Willow and Owen Szari; and a sister, Valerie(Robert) Schilling.

She was preceded in death by Douglas Downie, her loving husband of 58 years; and a sister, Eleanor (Steve) Lysko.

Family and friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 7 PM and Thursday from 10 to 11 AM at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel. Funeral services will be at 11 AM Thursday at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made in Rita's memory to the American Cancer Society, 525 N Broad St, Canfield, OH 44406. Family and friends may visit www.higgins-reardon.com to view this obituary and send condolences.