Wayne Bernard Downey
Jul 9th, 2025
Wayne Bernard Downey, 73, of South Dennis, died on Wednesday evening, July 9th.
Wayne was born and raised in Marlborough, son of Harold and Eleanor (Severance) Downey. He attended local schools and was a 1970 graduate of Marlborough High School. He was a vicious athlete; conquering the fields in football, baseball, hockey, and tennis.
After leaving Marlborough, he attended Worcester State College, and later moved to Colorado to become a ski instructor for many years.
Wayne was a resident of Dennis for 47 years and ran his own roofing and siding business, starting as “W.B.D. Siding”, and later as “Downey Home Exterior Specialist”. Over the years, he has contributed to many of the beautiful homes that have been built here on Cape Cod. In 1990, Wayne started dating his former wife, Amy Downey, who he married in 1996, and welcomed his “Peanut”, his only daughter, Jillian Downey. Although Wayne and Amy later divorced, they remained very close friends. Skiing was one of his many passions that he had shared with his friends. One his biggest feats was climbing and skiing Tuckerman’s Ravine, also known as "the birthplace of extreme skiing in the US”. Some of his favorite memories were skiing with friends and his daughter in North Conway and Pats Peak in New Hampshire. In the summer, he enjoyed fresh water bass fishing, winning many local competitions.
He was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Eleanor Downey, his brother, Harold “Skeets” Downey, and his sister, Gayle Dirico. He is survived by his daughter, Jillian Downey, and her mother, Amy Downey of South Yarmouth, his sister, Lynne Montague of Hudson, his sister-in-law, Gail Downey of Hudson, many nieces and nephews, and close friends.
His visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 15th, from 4:00-7:00pm at Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA 02664. A funeral Mass that is open to all of his friends, family, and acquaintances who wish to celebrate his life will be held on Wednesday, July 16th, at 11:00am, Saint Pius X Church located on Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA 02664.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations in Wayne’s honor be sent to Sandy Paws Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 1772, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, because at the end of his life, Wayne’s best friend was his bichon frisé, Charlie.