Therese M Downing

Therese M. (Hebert) Downing, 90, of Gardner, died peacefully Friday, October 26, 2018 in her home.

            Born in Cocagne, N.B. Canada on December 23, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Eva (Goguen) Hebert.

            In 1980, Therese became a Certified Nurses Aide from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School of Fitchburg. She spent 30 years as a Nurses Aide employed by Heywood Hospital of Gardner, retiring in 1993.

            Therese was a member of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner.  She was also a former member of the ‘Two Hearts as One’ square dancing club.

            Therese enjoyed cooking, and she loved taking care of stray cats.

            She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Ovila Downing, who died in 2011; and her daughter, Linda M. Donelle who died in 1969

            Therese leaves two sons, Ronald G. Donelle of Lowell, MA, and Jerry P Downing and his wife Linda of Gardner; three brothers, Raymond Hebert and his wife Elaine of Gardner, Ted Hebert of Tampa Bay, FL and Francois Hebert of Lady Lake, FL; two sisters, Doris Collette of Gardner and Jeanita Cadoret of Tarpon Springs, FL; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by four brothers, Clarence, Ernest, Edgar and Patric; and by four sisters, Lucy Bernier, Delia Barbee, Marie Hebert and Margarite Sammarco.

            Graveside Services will be held Friday, November 16th at 11:00 a.m. in Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner.         

            There are no calling hours.

            Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 Fifth Street, Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451.

            Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner is handling the arrangements.