Shirley Downes, 88

03/28/2008

PITTSFIELD — Shirley Downes, 88, of Melbourne Road, died late Friday night, March 28, 2008, at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 30, 1920, daughter of Leo and Anna Markowitz Frohlich, she attended New York schools and graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor of arts in English. She moved to the Berkshires seven years ago. A journalist, Mrs. Downes worked for Billboard Magazine, J. Walter Thompson and as an editor at Modern Screen Magazine, all in New York City. A committed and active supporter of peace and civil rights issues, she was chairman of the civil rights organization in Roslyn, N.Y., and a member of Women Strike for Peace, a national organization established to oppose nuclear proliferation in the 1960s. Her husband, Saul Downes, whom she married on Dec. 12, 1948, in Manhattan, N.Y., died in 2001. She leaves her son, Burt Downes and his wife, Ellen, of Interlaken; her daughter, Kim Downes of Guttenberg, N.J., and her grandson, William Downes. FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Shirley Downes will be conducted on Tuesday, April 1, at 9 a.m. from Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington by Rabbi Ross. A burial service will follow at 3 p.m. at New Montefiore Cemetery in Pinelawn, N.Y. Friends are invited to join the family as they sit shiva on Wednesday, April 2, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the home of Burt Downes. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Downes may be made to the charity of one's choice through Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.

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Shirley Downes, 88

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Burt - our thoughts go out to you at this sad time. The first time I met your mother at your home in E. Williston (very early on, pre-marriage days) she was lying on the sofa with her shoes off, nylon stockinged feet up on a pillow, a book or newspaper in one hand, a glass of something relaxing in the other hand, and a huge smile for you and your friends when we came into the house for a visit. I remember her tactful questioning Jon (I think she called him Jonny) about college and about how his family was, etc. You could see in her eyes how proud she was of you and happy to see you with your friends. I hope your memories bring you comfort and want to let you know we are thinking about you. Hope to see you in July on the cape. Regards/love to Ellen and Will.
from: Ingrid	on: 04-11-2008