Maureen B. (Mullaly) Downes, of Milton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at age 99.

Born in Manhattan to Mary (Moran) and John Mullaly, Maureen spent her childhood playing on the sidewalks and stoops of Second Avenue with her beloved sister, Betty, and her brothers Jack, Bobby and Dick. Maureen was a consummate city girl who once worked as a secretary in the Empire State Building. In 1950, when she married Thomas Francis Downes, they lit a flame whose light would burn for generations. Their loving marriage of 68 years produced 11 children, 33 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, along with generations to come.

In the early years of their marriage, Maureen and Tom stayed in “the neighborhood,” of mid-town Manhattan, later moving to Queens, Princeton, N.J. and ultimately settling in Milton in 1963. Maureen was an active parishioner at St. Agatha’s Church, where she proudly attended dozens of her children and grandchildren’s First Holy Communions, graduations, confirmations and marriages. She was fortunate to have many close friends from St. Agatha’s, along with many of the families from Governors Road and adjacent neighborhoods.

Maureen’s personality was built on strength, resilience, humor, and indominable spirit and an infinite supply of love. Not only did she know each of her grandchildren’s birthdays, but she also knew their friends names, occupations, favorite colors and shoe sizes. If she ever needed a reminder for any of those things, it would be written on the kitchen chalkboard in her perfect penmanship.

Their home of more than 60 years on Governors Road was legendary in the neighborhood for its backyard, which hosted a constant stream of children and teenagers. Maureen presided over the home with the perfect combination of discipline and mischief, which she would dole out freely to all who visited.

Maureen leaves her 11 children: Mary Falwell of Bluffton, S.C. and Chatham; Stephen and Ann (O’Hara) of Milton; Regis and Shelley (Murphy) of Weymouth; Michael and Cathryn (Macdonald) of Easton; Lorraine and Hank McCartin of Providence, R.I.; Maureen and David Jeffery of Easton; Justine and Jim Murphy of Bridgewater; Richard of Milton; Tara and Walter O’Leary of Milton; Deirdre and Mark Morris of Edgartown; Moira Downes and James McLaughlin of South Boston. She also leaves her cherished grandchildren, Kathryn, Thomas, Kerry, Liam, Ryan, Jessica, Marissa, Lena, Jack, Ava, Nicholas, Robert, Elizabeth, Kevin, Deirdre, Meaghan, Maureen, Stephen, Madeleine, Hannah, Colette, Elise, Kelley, Erin, Tara, Michael, Shannon, Brendan, Madison, Delphine, Maeve and William, along with 22 great-grandchildren. She will be reunited with her beloved granddaughter, Leah.

A wake will be held at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Ave, EAST MILTON SQUARE, on Wednesday, September 23rd from 5-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Agatha Church, 432 Adams Street, Milton, on Thursday, September 24th at 10:30 am. Burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.