Phyllis A. (Pettipaw) Downey-Fehl

Phyllis A. (Pettipaw) Downey-Fehl, 94, died Friday, October 17, 2025, at her home in Carver, after a long period of declining health. Born in Boston, she was raised and educated in Jamaica Plain and was a graduate of Boston Catholic Schools. She then attended and graduated from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing. Later in life she returned to the classroom and graduated from Bridgewater State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Phyllis worked as a Registered Nurse at the former Cardinal Cushing Hospital in the Recovery Room/ PAC-U for over 20 years. She was a longtime resident of Easton, before moving to Carver 2 years ago. She enjoyed spending her winters in Naples, FL. Phyllis was fortunate to find the love of two devoted husbands during her lifetime. In 1954 she married Robert M. Downey and together they enjoyed over 45 years of marriage and raised their 10 children in Easton before his death in 2001. Several years later she married Robert Fehl and they enjoyed 17 years of marriage before his death in 2024.

Family was the center of Phyllis’s life. She was a dedicated mother, grandmother and great grandmother who cherished her time at her family cabin in New Hampshire, large family gatherings and holidays. She also enjoyed gardening, golfing and reading. Her favorite times were spent surrounded by her family.

Phyllis was the mother of Michael H. Downey of Brockton, Robert M. Downey, Jr. of Barnstable, Lisa A. Downey, Amy M. Neumeister and Christopher J. Downey all of NH, Peter T. Downey of RI, Jeanne Y. Downey of Wareham, Constance M. Kjelgaard of Onset, Patrick J. Downey of Middleboro and the late Stephen G. Downey. She was predeceased by her granddaughter Shelly Millen and her siblings, Lorraine Reith and Frank Pettipaw and is also survived by 27 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Holy Cross Church, 225 Purchase St., Easton on Monday, November 10 at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at South Easton Cemetery in Easton. Donations in Phyllis’s name may be made to the Old Colony Hospice, 321 Manley St., West Bridgewater 02379 or to My Brother’s Keeper, PO Box 338, Easton 02356.