Ann Adelle Downing Coordination Page
Video Tribute
(this is the full MP4 file and is large)
Same
Video Tribute (this is on YouTube and is easier to get, but has ads)
(background music is Ann’s Senior
Recital at Capital University, recorded in Mees Hall, March 20, 1958)
Ann Adelle Downing of
Woodstock, Illinois passed away peacefully in her home on September 29th, 2021,
following a long and courageous battle with cancer. She brought friendship,
humor, caring, and music to everyone she knew. She was surrounded by family
and the singing of hymns as she transitioned to her heavenly life just before
her 85th birthday, which would have been October 11th. Ann was born in 1936 in
Richmond, Indiana to Charles Edward and Edith (Hoffman) Kaeuper in a
tight-knit, fun-loving German Lutheran extended family and community. She
graduated from Capital University, majoring in Music Education with a minor
in piano performance. She met the love of her life, Charles Edwin Downing,
while serving as the piano accompanist for a community-choir performance of
Handel’s Messiah, in which Chuck was singing. On August 29th, 1959, she and
Chuck married in Richmond. After three years in Connecticut, Ann and her
family lived for 27 years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she taught piano and
helped raise a loving family. She volunteered and taught Sunday school at
Zion Lutheran Church. In 1991, Ann and Chuck moved
to Onsted, Michigan. Their home was by a small lake, Loch Erin, which
children, friends, and eventually grandchildren also enjoyed. Ann was a
member of Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church. She also loved playing piano
as an accompanist for instrumental
music students at Sienna Heights College, and sang with Chuck in the Lenawee
Community Chorus. Ann lost her beloved husband
in 2009, two weeks before their 50th wedding anniversary. Ann stayed in their
home at the Michigan lake as long as she could, but she felt it was just
never the same. Three years later, she decided to move to Woodstock, Illinois
to be closer to her children. Ann became a member of
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in McHenry, Illinois, and continued to
be a lifeline for many who found counsel and connection in her storytelling,
listening, and caring. Ann was always a phone call away for anyone who needed
advice or just wanted to talk (or listen!!!). She found her personal strength
in her music—particularly the grand piano that she and Chuck owned—as well as
her family and her faith. Ann was extraordinarily dedicated to her parents,
husband, children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, friends’
children, friends’ grandchildren…. She remembered everyone’s birthdays and always
sent cards! It is impossible to adequately describe the compassion and love
that she showed us all. There will never be another Ann Adelle, Ann, Mrs.
Downing, Mom, Aunt Dello, Grandma. Ann is survived by one daughter, Allison
Ann Downing (Mary Rapp) of Evanston, Illinois; two sons, Charles Edward
(Susan) Downing of St. Charles, Illinois, and David Jonathan (Katherine)
Downing of Spring Grove, Illinois; one brother, Richard (Meg) Kaeuper of
Rochester, New York; six nephews, and four grandchildren: Katlyn Elizabeth,
Charles Edwin, Matthew David, and Ryan Scott Downing. Funeral services will be held
with immediate family on Saturday, October 23rd at 2 pm Central Time (3:00
p.m. EST). Pastor Stan Lillich, husband of Ann’s dear cousin Jan, will deliver
the homily. The service will be streamed for anyone who would like to be
“present” virtually. We will feel the support of all of you with us! Type
http://www.ChuckDowning.com/Mom into your browser to open a page where you
will find: 1. a link to the streaming of
the funeral services (Saturday, October 23rd at 2 pm CST) 2. links
to send memorial contributions, either to the American Cancer Society or to
the McHenry County Senior Care Volunteer Network (SCVN) in the name of their
Transportation Services, whose volunteer drivers took Ann to chemotherapy
infusions at McHenry Hospital without any monetary charge 272 times from 2018
to 2020. |
The funeral service was held virtually
on October 23 and you can see the recording here: ·
Recording of funeral
service In lieu of flowers, please consider
donating to one of the following two organizations in Ann’s name: ·
American
Cancer Society mosaic ·
McHenry County Senior Care
Volunteer Network (Senior Care Volunteer Network (SCVN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
who is devoted to making a difference in McHenry County. We are a volunteer
program, providing necessary and no-cost services that benefit the seniors of
our county and their families. We are proud that our services truly bring
value to all community members as we support our care receivers’
independence, build new relationships, and reduce family burden and their
lost time and wages.) |