Julia W Downing

Julia (Julie) Moody Downing, 96, of Plymouth, NH, died on October 26, 2023, at Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen, NH. Born October 9, 1927, she was raised in Plymouth, and was the oldest of seven children born to Dannie and Grace (Philbrick) Moody. She lived her life in service to others and will be greatly missed by all those she left behind.

Family was the joy of Julie’s life, and she helped raise four generations, starting with her siblings and extending to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She even lived long enough to hold her great-great granddaughter! Julie was the go-to babysitter, the Nana who would always have advice if you wanted it (and frequently even when you didn’t!). She stood in the doorway waving you off as you drove away, and wanted you to call when you got home to let her know that you had arrived safely. Her house was the gathering spot for love and laughter; from Sunday dinners to the Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas gatherings that were always celebrated in her home. She loved to visit, and her door was always open to anyone who wanted to stop by. She loved to read romances and crime novels, to watch TV while she knitted or crocheted, and to go to church every Sunday.

In addition to caring for her family, Julie worked at various jobs over the course of her life: First National grocery store, Adam’s Supermarket, Cricenti’s Supermarket, Sprague’s, Hitchner, McDonald’s, and A Cleaner World drycleaners. At each of them she touched the lives of those who came through her checkout line or sat next to her on the assembly line.

Julie was predeceased by her husband Edward G. Downing, parents Grace and Dannie Moody, siblings Thomas Moody, Doris (Moody) Pike, Daniel Moody, Carole (Moody) Roy, Clifton Moody, and Consuelo Moody.

Julie is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Downing and her partner Henry Ahern Jr., son, Niles Downing and his wife Terry Downing; grandchildren: Jennifer Yeaton (husband Ken), Danielle Downing, Kristen Downing de Almeida, Christopher Downing (wife Amanda), and Aaron Downing (wife Heather); great-grandchildren: Ashley Yeaton, Jonathen de Almeida, Trevor Yeaton, Rachael Downing Santos, Evan Downing, Rhea Downing, Avery Downing, and Briggs Downing; great-great granddaughter Mercy de Almeida; sister-in-law Carol Moody; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth, NH, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Plymouth United Methodist Church, 334 Fairgrounds Road, Plymouth, NH 03264, or to the Merrimack County Nursing Home, 325 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, NH 03303.