Nancy Downing

Nancy Sue Downing (of Streetsboro) took her final curtain call on December 8th. Nicknamed "Mrs. Uping" by her students, Nancy, a lifelong teacher (at Copley, Woodridge and Weaver Schools) always found the positive spin in her challenging life, and the redeeming qualities in any person, place or thing. To her, a glass that wasn't half full was, at the very least, a collectible. When they made Nancy, they wanted to throw away the mold, but it turns out that she collects those too. Nancy (with the laughing face) was as cheerful, generous and original as they come, seemed completely unsinkable, and leaves behind numerous memories of a life well-lived. Her friends and loved ones can only smile in admiration through their tears: she did it her way, on her farm, to the end.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Susan and John Hildebrant (of Akron), and is survived by her sons Stephen (Texas) and Keith (Norway), two daughters-in-law, Margaret and Malfrid, and 5 grandchildren: Neva, Asta, Jasem, Sonia and Angelo.

Nancy has been cremated, and a celebration of her life with friends and family will take place in the summer of 2016. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Arthritis Foundation.