Marie T. Downs-Deasy

Marie T. Downs-Deasy, 100, formerly of Oak Hill Farms in Hampton, died peacefully March 29, 2022 at Cumberland Crossing Manor in McCandless.  She was the beloved wife of the late Paul E. Downs, co-founder of the Pittsburgh accounting firm Schneider Downs, who left her a widow in 1986.  She later became the beloved wife of the late Robert A. Deasy of the corporate communications department at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, who passed away in 2013.

Marie is survived by her sister Jeanne Baker, nieces Tracey (Rob) Marsh, Susan Baker, Lisa (Dan) Hoover, Maribeth Baker and nephew Walter A. Baker II, plus grand nieces Meghan Baker, Mallory Baker, Mary (R.J.) Drucker, Holly Hoover and grand nephews Banks (Shelby) Baker, Tim Marsh and Bennett Marsh, plus five daughters of the late JoAnne and John Downs: Darlene (Richard) Kent, Dianne (Richard) Lynch, Donna (Kevin) Eppard, Denise (Mark) Edgar and Dana (Frederick) Buckman.  Marie is also survived by stepson Mark (Andrea) Deasy and stepdaughter Deborah Deasy, plus four step-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.

A World War II veteran, Marie served two years in the U.S. Navy Women's Reserve. She worked in a dental clinic in Corpus Christi, Texas after enlisting in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES).  "I wanted to get into medicine," Marie said the night before she died, happily recalling her long life and first job as an assistant to Pittsburgh dentists Walter and George Gregg.  Daughter of the late Mary and Peter Trebec, Marie grew up in Stanton Heights and married Paul Downs in her 40s. Before her marriage to Paul, Marie also worked more than 15 years in the chancellor's office at the University of Pittsburgh, and was head secretary to the late Edward Litchfield, the university's 12th chancellor.

Born Feb. 19, 1922, Marie celebrated her centennial on Feb. 19, 2022 at a birthday dinner attended by 50 family members and friends, including Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik, at the Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh.  The dinner followed a Mass celebrated by the Rev. Timothy Whalen in St. Mary Church at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Hampton, where Marie was a longtime member.  Marie was also a longtime member of the Serra Club of Pittsburgh, an organization of lay Catholics who work to promote religious vocations.

Friends will be received at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street (freyvogelfuneralhome.com) on Friday April 1, 2022 from 4-6pm. Funeral Saturday, April 2, Mass of Christian Burial, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, St. Mary of Assumption Church at 10:00AM. Remembrances may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (www.olphpgh.org) or Fox Families Care (www.foxfamiliescare.org).

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