Albina Josephine Donnelly Downing
Albina Josephine Donnelly Downing was born in Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, Ireland on March 19,1932. She was one of eight children born to Catherine and Florence Donnelly. She was raised on a farm with breathtaking views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Like many of her generation she emigrated at the tender age of 19. She sailed to New York on the S.S. Washington out of Cobh, Co. Cork on March 21,1951. She arrived at the Port of New York on March 28, 1951 to live the American dream and that she did!
Ironically, the day she arrived in New York Harbor was the very day that her future husband enlisted in the U.S. Army and left New York!
During those early years she met many of her lifelong friends. It was about 1955 that she met the love of her life, Denis Christopher Downing. Although he was from Kerry, only 29 miles from her birthplace, they both travelled over 3,000 miles to ultimately meet at the Old Jaeger House, an Irish dance hall in Manhattan. They married on March 2, 1957 and soon had seven children.
The love she had for Kerry equally matched her love of New York. She was a proud and active member of the Kerry Ladies P&B Association, serving multiple terms as President. Her strong Irish connection was evident through her marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, attending the Kerry Dances, Irish football and hurling games at Gaelic Park in the Bronx as well as weekly card games. She held close to her heart not only the spirit of good friendship but loyalty to her Irish heritage. She enjoyed hosting family and friends when they visited New York. She loved the bright lights of New York City. Her witty and fun personality, combined with her zest for life, always guaranteed a good time.
Josephine was a sixty-five year resident of Woodside, New York and a devoted parishioner of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church. She took pride in being part of the Woodside Community and embraced the strong bond among her neighbors and friends.
Josephine died on January 4, 2024 at the age of 91. She was predeceased by her husband Denis, her son John and her grandsons Denis and Michael. She is survived by her children Maureen (Brian), Denise (Bob), Rosie (Frank), Joe (Linda), Jimmy (Annie), Denis (Crissy), her daughter-in-law Anne and her grandchildren Allison (Kenny), Daniel, Meaghan, Christine (Nate), Shannon (Michael), Molly (Edo), Ciara, Joanne (Ben), Catherine, James (Angela), Christopher, Joseph, Sean, Jamie, Lauren, Kerry, Colleen, John, and Maeve and her great-grandchildren Eden, Noa, Riley, Kelsey, and Callan.
Her passing leaves a void, but Josephine's spirit of joy, camaraderie, and love for her heritage will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
The world Albina knew
Family milestones in gold, history for context
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