For 18 years, RoseMarie Downs was head cook at the Babylon Memorial Grade School. She lived on Edward Avenue in Babylon Village with her family for 41 years.

RoseMarie Downs died January 11, 2006. She was 68 years old.

Born in the Bronx, she spent her life in the Babylon area.

“She loved life, her family and friends,” said her daughter, Donna, when asked to sum up her mother. According to her daughter, every holiday was spent at her mother’s lavishly decorated home (inside and out).

In her spare time, Mrs. Downs loved to nurture the garden around her home and hunt for bargains. She was like a second mother to many, according to her family.

She leaves behind her husband of 48 years, Robert A.; her children: Donna Senzamici and her husband Vincent of West Babylon, Douglas and his wife Margaret of Virginia, Robert Jr. of Massachusetts, Michael and his wife Wendy of Georgia and Lori DiFede and her husband Michael of Ridge; his grandchildren: Vincent, Matthew, Christopher, Abby, Jennifer, Bradford, Annie, Courtney, Brianna, Taylor, Michael, Lauren and Kelly; as well as many other family members and friends.

Mrs. Downs reposed at the Claude R. BoydSpencer Funeral Home, 448 West Main Street, Babylon. A Catholic funeral mass was held January 13, 2006 at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Babylon followed by interment in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.