Obituary of Esther F. Downs

Esther F. Downs, 94, formerly of Adams Center, passed July 27, 2016 in Gladbrook, Iowa where she has resided since 2014. Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 5 at the Piddock Funeral Home, Adams. The funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, August 6 in the chapel of the Union Cemetery, Adams Center with Rev. Leon 'Toby' Schilling officiating. Burial will follow in the cemetery. Mrs. Downs was born August 12, 1921 in Rodman, daughter of Ivan and Dorothy Newton Brown. She was a graduate of Adams Center High School. On March 20,1941 Esther married Robert L. Downs in the Adams Center Baptist Church with Rev. Ivan Cash officiating. The couple lived in Adams Center all their married life. Esther was a homemaker and also was a bookkeeper for their family owned business, Downs Construction. Mr. Downs died November 15, 1986. A member of the Adams Village Baptist Church, she enjoyed sewing, cross-stitch, reading, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, golf and her pets. Mrs. Downs is survived by two daughters and a son in law: Linda Greene of Henderson Harbor, Donna and Craig Hempy, Montour, Iowa; a son-in-law, Edward Majewicz, Walworth, NY; five grandchildren: Cindy Greene, Taylorsville, NC, Natalie Hempy (Dave Van Roekel), Solon, IA, Peter Majewicz, Boise, ID, Karen Majewicz (Andy McCormick), Minneapolis, MN, Kara Hempy- Mayer (Michael Mayer), Northfield, MN; five great grandchildren: Luke, Jake and Nate Van Roekel, Solon, IA, Ella and Atticus Mayer, Northfield, MN; three sisters-in-law: Helen Fassett, Vivian Bufalini, Watertown, and Doris Blodgett, Rodman; several nieces and nephews. Besides her husband and parents she is predeceased by a daughter, Jeanne Majewicz, a brother, Wallace Brown, her mother and father- in- law, Alice and Charles E. Downs and various brothers and sisters- in- law. Donations may be made to Union Cemetery, PO Box 212, Adams Center, NY 13606 or Seniors Helping Seniors, 156 Chestnut St., Watertown, NY 13601.