Sister Cecilia Downing, O.P.

Sister Cecilia (Priest) Downing, O.P., 89, of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, Dighton since 1979 and former Director of Saint Anne's Hospital Volunteer Department, Fall River, died Saturday, September 13, 2008. Born in Cambridge, MA, she spent her early years in Farmington, CT and was a graduate of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Hartford, CT, St. Joseph's College, West Hartford and Boston University. She leaves a sister Veronica Goralski of Burlington, CT and nieces and nephews. She was the widow of John Patrick Downing and the daughter of the late Vernon and Elizabeth (Cremins) Priest and the sister of the late Mary-Rita Priest and Ethel Dulli. A funeral mass will be held Wednesday at 9:00 AM in the Provincial House of the Dominican Sisters, 3012 Elm St., Dighton. Burial, St. Anne Cemetery, Avon CT. Visitation at the Provincial House, Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, 3012 Elm St., Dighton MA 02715.