Marie Grace Dowsett

Marie Grace Dowsett, 96, of Culpeper passed from this life to the next stage of her journey on Sunday January 9th 2022. Born in Queens NY. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Richard T. Dowsett, her sister Janet Lonnie and her parents Benjamin Byrnes and Maye Courteau Byrnes. She is survived by her two sons Richard of Gordonsville and David of Queens NY. Special friends Tom and Sue Doetzer and others.

She was a reservations clerk way back for the Pennsylvania Rail Road in NYC where she met the love of her life through his Aunt Bess. After marrying, she left the work force to raise two boys in the mid 1950’s and 60’s and was active in the parents support group of St. Raphael School in East Meadow. The boys grew older and she rejoined the work force as a receptionist in a dentist office in NY. She was a social person and got along well with neighbors and friends some she maintained contact with through the years even though distance separated them. Upon moving to Culpeper she took a job as receptionist with Dr. John Miller, Optometrist in before retiring.

She was an active member for many years of Novum Quilters, The Culpeper Womens Club and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.

She was talented with her hands doing ceramics and other crafts, quilting and crocheting to keep busy. She was an avid reader until sight in one eye failed her and loved to watch old movies and listen to music from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. A radio was always on in her house. She decided to move into town from the County and did so independently and had picked out Amerisist, later English Meadows and now Noble Senior living as where she wanted to be when living alone wasn’t possible or feasible. She served as vice president and president of the Residents Council there taking up issues of concern with the management and staff.

A word of thanks to the support staff at Noble Senior Living, I hesitate to single out names as many of them were compassionate and went above and beyond the call on many occasions. However, I would be remiss not add personal thanks on mom’s behalf and my own to Gail who was there through thick and thin at the end.

A heart felt thanks goes out to the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and to Fr. Leo, Fr. Kevin and Fr. Dave Martin who ministered to her spiritual needs through out her lifetime here and her stay at Assisted Living. It brought great comfort to her and the family that this was taken care of so well.

Many thanks to the friends who kept up with visiting and calling and bringing the treats that she loved so well. You know who you are – your reward in heaven will be great.

God Bless you all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Precious Blood Catholic Church where she was an active member for nearly 50 years. The Mass will be on January 27th at 11AM with burial following at Culpeper National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to any of the following.

Virginia Knights of Columbus Charities, https://vakofc.org/donate/ or

Virginia State Police Association Emergency Relief Fund, https://www.vspa.org/ways-to-give/ or

The Freda Kratochvil Music Scholarship Fund through Precious Blood Catholic Church, https://membership.faithdirect.net/enroll/va226 (scroll down to one time gifts).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.clore-english.com for the Dowsett family.