March 8, 2015
Downes, Marilyn A.
Marilyn Augusta (Estabrook) Downes, church organist and choir director of the First Baptist Church in Westwood for 55 years, died of acute myeloid leukemia on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at the Brigham & Women‘s Hospital in Boston. She was 78. Marilyn was born April 15, 1936, the daughter of Walter Edward Farnum and Frances Augusta (Holden) Estabrook. She grew up in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Math and Music from Boston University. Marilyn taught Math in both Dedham and Westwood for about four years until becoming the organist and choir director at the First Baptist Church in Westwood in 1960. She established an English Handbell Choir in the late 1960′s which she brought on tours through England, Ireland and Austria and which continue to impress and inspire both the Baptist Church congregation and its fans in concerts throughout the year. Marilyn LOVED to travel, and enjoyed sharing stories of her adventures to over 33 countries. Marilyn is survived by her husband, Coach Russell Earle Downes; her son, Kenneth R. Downes, and his wife Kate, of Shelburne Falls; her daughters, Susan A. Downes-Borko, and her husband Victor, of Rangeley, Maine, and Nancy L. Hastings, and her husband Christopher, of Los Angeles, CA; her Brazilian son, Paulo Matos, and his wife Mary Wentworth, of Sudbury; her brother, Alan Estabrook of Orleans; her sister, Linda Holden of Shrewsbury; her grandchildren, Samuel Downes, Lauren Downes, Isabelle Hastings, Vanessa Matos, and Eliana Matos; and her beloved cat Sundae.
The family of Marilyn Augusta Downes cordially invites you to join us on Saturday, May 16, 2015, to celebrate her remarkable life. A memorial celebration will be held at 11:00AM followed by an informal luncheon with slide show. Both events will take place at First Baptist Church, 808 High Street, Westwood, MA, 02090.
The Westwood Ringers, Church Choir, and special musical guests will help us remember and celebrate the importance of music in Marilyn’s life.An RSVP is requested for both events to help us ensure that we have sufficient food and seating for all of Marilyn’s family and friends. Please submit your RSVP at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oBO_3qnhzh0ihIcAe3c5KozF4vJGDOvb_09vST8zb4k/viewform?usp=send_form
If you have any problems with this process or would rather confirm your attendance by telephone, please call and leave a message for Donna Metcalf at the First Baptist Church Office, 781-461-1730, with name and the number of people in your group attending.
The Westwood Ringers, Church Choir, and special musical guests will help us remember and celebrate the importance of music in Marilyn’s life.An RSVP is requested for both events to help us ensure that we have sufficient food and seating for all of Marilyn’s family and friends. Please submit your RSVP at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oBO_3qnhzh0ihIcAe3c5KozF4vJGDOvb_09vST8zb4k/viewform?usp=send_form
If you have any problems with this process or would rather confirm your attendance by telephone, please call and leave a message for Donna Metcalf at the First Baptist Church Office, 781-461-1730, with name and the number of people in your group attending.
A brief graveside service will be held the same morning at 10:00AM for those who wish to join the family for the interment of Marilyn’s ashes at the new Westwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Westwood, 808 High St., Westwood, MA 02090, to be used for the music ministry of the church.
Comments(9)
Dear Family,
Linda, Moyra and Brenda Nelson have many fond memories of handbell choir with Marilyn at Westwood Church.I’m sure they will all get a chance to play in the heavenly handbell choir with Marilyn. May God comfort you during this time of your loss.
Fred and Carol Miller
Dear Russ, Ken, Susan & Nancy,
My love and prayers are with you all as you cope with a world without your amazing mum/wife.
Marilyn made a huge impact on my life and I am so grateful for the privilege to have known her. The tireless enthusiasm and love for God that Marilyn displayed through her music and the music she helped us to make in the bell choir – blessed me and I am sure many others as well.
I thank our Heavenly Father for Marilyn; for the witness she was to me & for the grace and servant heart with which she shared her musical talent in service to God.
With all my love,
Brenda
There is nothing that can be said other to remember the good days, and there were a lot of them. My thoughts are with you all.
Peter
Dear Linda,
I am o sorry for you loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you
Irene
My thoughts and prayers are with my old and dear friend Russ and his family at this, the most difficult time that any family can face. Russ and Marilyn’s was a marriage made in heaven. I remember many happy times in their company. I know that Russ has the strength…and faith…to see him through this trial. My sincerest sympathy.
I never had musical talent of any kind. I couldn’t sing and I was never able to learn how to read music, but I loved it. Marilyn had me in the Crusader choir, the youth choir and the bell choir. She encouraged me to be a part of the musical fabric of the church and was able to work around my short comings. Without Marilyn, I would never have known the joy of taking part in a musical congregation. God Bless her and the work she did. She had amazing patience and worked tirelessly.
I have wonderful memories of Mrs. Downes and the various choirs at FBC. I especially loved the handbell choir – and the concerts, competitions, and tours. Mrs. Downes fed my love of music. What a gift.
Coach, I am so very sorry for loss.I know what it means to lose your wife. My heart-felt sympathies go out to you.Keep the faith, your wife is watching over you from her place in heaven.
Coach,So sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers from the Fabiano Family.