Eileen Marie (Downes) Rehg

Eileen Marie Rehg (Downes), age 96, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2025, in Fishers, Indiana. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 25, 1928, and spent most of her young life there. She graduated from Nerinx Hall High School in 1946. She met her future husband, Virgil, at Saint Louis University, where she was pursuing a degree in medical technology. Virgil offered her a ride as she waited in the rain for the trolley after class. In accepting his offer, she took the first step toward a loving marriage of 69 years. After graduating from SLU in 1950, she worked as a Medical Technician until she had her first child in 1952. Eileen and Virgil moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1960. Virgil went ahead to Dayton to work and find a place for them to live. Eileen followed a month later by train with four children under 8 years of age and one on the way (and no disposable diapers)! They lived and thrived in Dayton for 56 years, raising a family of seven children while volunteering in many organizations, including the Red Cross, Catholic Social Services, and 50 years with the Dayton League of Women Voters, which she helped establish. At the age of 59, she earned her master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences from Wright State University and became a TESOL instructor, teaching refugees, immigrants, college students and adults from every continent. Eileen and Virgil formed Quality Services of Dayton, providing training and consultation in Quality Circles to many different companies in the U.S. and abroad. Their seminar in Paris was so popular they were invited back seven times! She traveled any chance she got, first with Virgil and all seven kids in the Plymouth station wagon pulling the trailer across the country (even up & down winding, mountain roads – “eegads Virgil!”) to whatever military base where Virgil had a work assignment. While working toward her Master’s, she served as a Wright State Ambassador to Japan and China and later enjoyed taking trips with the Elderhostel program to fulfill her love of learning. She even traveled to Costa Rica at the age of 86 with her sister, Alice Jean and her daughter, Ellen, where they went white-water rafting after her enthusiastic encouragement! She had a love of adventure, Irish music, and folk dancing, walked daily, and swam regularly after learning to swim at the age of 40. Her faith inspired her to live a life of service to others, and in all settings she taught her children the value of critical thinking and to always “keep your wits about you!” We will miss her wise, practical advice, her warm, joyful smile greeting us with each visit, and sitting on the couch eating popcorn and watching Jeopardy together. We trust she is up in Heaven dancing and laughing with Dad! Eileen is preceded in death by her husband, Virgil R. Rehg, her parents, William L. and Mary Alice (Wildermuth) Downes, brother William L. Downes, Jr., daughter Ellen M. Rehg, and granddaughter Dyan M. Rehg. She is survived by her children William Rehg, S.J., John (Chi) Rehg, Michael (Bibiana) Rehg, Paul (Joanne) Rehg, Anne (Kevin) Degnan, Carolyn (Sean) Weiss, son-in-law William Miller, 21 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, her sister Alice Jean Adcock, brother John (Rosemary) Downes, Virgil’s sister Doris Thone and brother Jim (Marci) Rehg, sister-in-law Laurie Hogan Davis, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the American Red Cross or Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley, or a charity of your choice that serves those in need. Funeral will be held on July 25th at 9am at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis, MO with light lunch reception immediately following in the church basement. Burial will be the same day at 1pm at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. For Funeral Mass parking please use the Laclede Garage at 3634 Laclede Ave., just west of Grand Ave. and one block south of the church. USE THE VISITOR’S ENTRANCE, which is closer to Grand and is clearly marked as such. The gate should already be up, so you don’t need to take a ticket. The exit gate should remain open until the end of the reception, but if it isn’t, the booth attendant can raise it for you.

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Eileen Marie (Downes) Rehg

September 25, 1928 - May 9, 2025