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Grace Elizabeth (Downey) Koehler, age 63, died peacefully surrounded by her family on November 11, 2020. Grace was born in Nutley, New Jersey and moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1966. Grace attended St. James School and Prospect High School. Grace graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Agronomy. Grace was blessed to have a career in what she loved, specializing in native plants.
Grace married Peter Koehler in 1983 and has 3 loving children. Grace loved God, her family, friends, natural spaces and biking. Grace and Peter are long time members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles, IL and Oblates at Marmion Abbey. Grace was an avid knitter and was always making her friends and family beautiful knitted gifts. Grace sang in the St. Patrick’s and Marmion’s choirs and the Elgin Choral Union under the direction of Robert Hanson. She shared her wonderful gift of song with countless families for their weddings and funerals.
Grace is survived by her husband Peter, her children: Anna Koehler (Daniel Schnarr), Michael (Samantha) Koehler, and Terence (Rachael) Koehler. She was grandmother (Nini) to 6 grandchildren: Emma, Vincent, Andrew, Zadie, Olive and Leo. She is survived by 4 brothers and sisters: Kathleen (Michael) Krepps, Philip (Leslie) Downey, Clare (Edward) Malysiak, and Paul (Jean O’Malley) Downey.
Grace was preceded in death by her mother and father, Philip and Elizabeth (Betty) Downey.
Grace will be remembered for her faithfulness, patience, large heart and voice of an angel.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Foundation for Women’s Cancer https://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/.
A private visitation will be held at Yurs Funeral Home in St. Charles due to COVID-19 restrictions, but all family and friends are invited to a virtual Zoom Wake service at 5:30 P.M. Monday, November 16, 2020. A Private Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M., November 17, 2020, at St. Patrick Catholic Church 6N491 Crane Rd, St. Charles, IL 60175. To virtually attend the wake service via Zoom meeting please go to Zoom.com and click “Join a Meeting” in the upper right hand corner of screen, then use meeting ID# 923 7324 9288 and pass code: Koehler. To Attend the Funeral Mass via Zoom use meeting ID# 746 336 7253 and pass code: Koehler. For any further questions, please call Yurs Funeral Home of St.Charles at 630-584-0060.
A celebration for all Grace’s family and friends to attend, will be June 5th details forth coming. https://www.yursfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/st-charles/grace-elizabeth-downey-koehler/?fbclid=IwAR2E3qJ9jKLJJzn-gMX4FVfttwr6KVeclY9e2cYKjCXR4pBXaalE0D
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Peter Presperin
Grace was an extraordinary lady. She was my best friend for many years. We used to spend countless hours hanging out, chilling and talking. I can remember spending hours with her on the phone. I’m sure it was very frustrating to people that tried to call our houses because all they got was a busy signal. As I think about it busy signals are a thing of the past. I’ll bet none of our children or grandchildren even know what they are.
Grace was one of the few people I know that was able to turn her avocation/passion into her occupation. She loved nature, animals and plants. We used to make terrariums and grow plants together. Grace spent her career and life doing what she loved. She started out working for the park services and then worked for a landscape company making Chicago and the surrounding suburbs a more beautiful place.
Grace was an amazing, kind and gentle soul. She will be missed. I'm sure she will find beautiful, flowers, gardens and prairies on her walks in heaven. The angels are lucky to have her. She will make it an even more beautiful place.
I wonder if they have phones in heaven?
Peter