Eileen E. Downey December 25, 1954 – December 23, 2018 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Private Condolences| Send Sympathy Card Eileen Elizabeth Downey passed away at the age of 63 on December 23rd, 2018 in Pennsylvania with all four of her children by her side. Born on Christmas day in 1954, her mother, Irene Kolaja and late father Thomas Kolaja, raised her for a time in Minnesota then brought her up in Corry, PA where she graduated from high school in 1972. She gave over 30 years of service to the Erie County Housing & Redevelopment Authority where she retired as Assistant Deputy Director.
Upon retirement, she was eager to begin her adventure as a grandmother in 2009. With her late husband, she watched the roster of grandchildren grow quickly and she was a proud “Granny” to 5 girls and 2 boys. In addition to her father, Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of over 35 years, Daniel Downey; her step-father, James D. Platt; and her brother, Thomas Kolaja Jr. Along with her mother, Eileen is survived by a daughter, Catherine Kelley Downey of Raleigh, N.C.; three sons, Brandon Crotty and his wife Christy of Clermont, Fl.
, Paul Downey and his wife Jade of Clymer, N.Y., and Kevin Downey of North East, Pa. ; and five sisters, Ann Thompson and her husband Glen of Ft. Myers Beach, Fl.
, Louise Carnes and her husband Skip of Waterford, Pa. , Theresa Heitkamp and her husband Kenny of Fullerton, Ca. , Tammy Thomas and her husband Keith of Corry, Pa.
, and Kathleen McGowan of Corry, Pa. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Aliyah, Mariam, Kinsley, Payton, Tyler, Padraig and Eesa; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Eileen was a dedicated employee of Erie County and a hard worker, yet was never defined by her job.
Along with having four children and working full time, she also stayed busy as the First Woman President of the Rotary Club in Corry, PA, A Little League Baseball Coach in Clymer, NY and taught Sunday School at Saint Matthias in French Creek, NY. She will be remembered for her contagious laugh, her goofy sense of humor and a caring empathetic heart. Always offering a cup of coffee and ready to feast on chocolate.
Eileen had a competitive nature and sometimes played backgammon games to determine chore list. She was a dedicated Raiders fan, cheered for the Clemson Tigers and loved her Buffalo Sabres. She played with integrity; from softball leagues to tennis matches, scrabble, bowling and jeopardy (her quick wit made her a favorite partner in trivia).
She was an introvert who enjoyed alone time through gardening, crossword puzzles, and watching local news yet also enjoyed extrovert adventures that included dancing, antiquing and game nights. She had a great sense of humor and when challenged she would win over the grumpiest person in the room. She was guarded and protective out of love; a fierce advocate for her children and grandchildren.
Her creative spirit inspired projects ranging from crocheted blankets to hand made jewelry. A keen eye for all things sparkly, she collected vintage jewelry that she proudly showed off to her adoring granddaughters. She had a deep appreciation for music and an ear that could identify obscure artists and songs from all genres.
Her life can be summarized in stories that deliver her wit, humor, love and creativity. The family asks that you continue to share these stories and keep her memory alive as her legacy is passed on through her grandchildren. She’ll join Dan in heaven to comb the beach for sea glass.
She’ll make her famous meatballs for Phil Aravanis and chocolate chip cookies for Todd Smith then dance with Rita Downey, play cards with Tom Kolaja and talk politics with Paul Jansen. The family will have a private service on Wednesday Dec 26th and an open visitation from 5-8pm at Bracken Funeral Home, 315 N. Center St., Corry, Pa. In lieu of flowers, the family supports contributions to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society or a charitable organization close to your heart.
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