Virginia M. Downey

Cambridge - Mrs. Virgina M. (Darcy) Downey, of Cambridge, died Wednesday October 27, 2010 at Sancta Maria Nursing Home in Cambridge. She was 82.

Virginia was born in Boston on January 27, 1928, a daughter of the late George A. and Mary J. (McManus) Darcy and had lived in Cambridge for many years. For over forty years she was a dedicated elementary school teacher for the Boston Public Schools, retiring from the William H. Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury. She was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands and in her spare time she enjoyed her trips to Castle Island in South Boston, reading, organic gardening, chocolates, the Irish Gaelic language and all kinds of genealogy. She especially enjoyed being around her family and extended family.

Virginia was the wife of the late James B. Downey; sister of the late George A. Darcy, Jr. and Anne Patriarca and sister-in-law of the late John Patriarca, Sr., Rev. Charles Downey, and Maurice Downey.

She leaves her nieces and nephews, Katherine Joyce Hickson of Hampden, George A. Darcy, III of Waltham, Susan Patriarca Parsons of Mystic, Connecticut, John Patriarca of La Crescenta, California, and Michael Patriarca of Swampscott, her sister-in-law, Janet Darcy of Waltham and eight grand nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Virginia’s life by gathering to visit in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St. (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday morning from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Francis of Assisi Church, 325 Cambridge St., Cambridge where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to The Friends of The Boston Harbor Islands, 349 Lincoln St., Building 45, Hingham, MA 02043.