Paula K Downing, 68, formerly of Lansdale and Collegeville, PA, died peacefully on April 9, 2022, at Wayne Center Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Paula was born August 15, 1953, in Tokyo, Japan, where her father was stationed during the Korean war.  The family moved back to the United States 2 years later, eventually settling in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Paula attended Lower Moreland High School and became one of the first women to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business from Villanova University. She launched her career in customer service at Sears, but chose to step back several years later to devote her time fully to raising her children and being a homemaker. After 15 years, she re-entered the workforce by opening a Subway franchise and then taking on various accounting roles.  She eventually rose to VP of Finance at Nexxt, where she worked for more than 14 years. In her spare time, Paula was an active member of the St. Stanislaus school board throughout her children’s school years and a Eucharistic minister at Mary Mother of the Redeemer.  She also was an excellent crafter, sewing more than 30 counted cross-stitch samplers, knitting yards of prayer shawls and hats for chemotherapy patients, and stenciling hundreds of homemade Christmas cards.

At home, Paula was a devoted wife to husband Edward (Jack) Downing, Jr., for almost 49 years.  She raised 3 children – Paula (Terry) Downing-Kline, Colleen Hedge, and Edward (Jack) Downing III – and happily watched them start their own families with spouses Ben, Jordan, and Michelle. She also has 5 grandchildren – Aidan, Logan, Emma, Owen, and Oliver – whom she spoiled every chance she got.  Paula is survived by her father, Loyal (Lee) Arens, and her sister, Patricia Quinn. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Arens.

Her Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 27th, at Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 1321 Upper State Rd, North Wales, PA 19454  The family will receive friends starting at 9:30, prior to mass.  The Mass will be livestreamed. Please use this link.

https://www.mmredeemer.org/mass-streaming

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions in Paula’s name to the Breast Cancer Alliance.