Helene Downing June 23, 1936 - December 13, 2017

Helene Downing, 81, of Allentown, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, December 13, 2017 in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.  She was the wife of William J. Downing.  They would have celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary next month.  Helene was born in Hof, Germany a daughter of the late Adolf and Pauline J. (Vogtmann) Teichmann.  Helene was employed by the Gift Design Gallery at the Lehigh Valley Mall up until the last two years. She traveled with her husband to many destinations around the world including many trips back to her beloved Germany. Helene enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, and texting her grandchildren.  Her great-grandchildren were the “Light of her Life”.

Survivors: Husband; daughter; Linda A. wife of Bruce A. Reinhard of South Whitehall Township; brother, Rudolf and his wife Jutta Teichmann of Germany; son-in-law, Robert Letts of NJ; grandchildren, Michele and her husband Jim Veluta of PA, Valerie and her husband Mike Miller of New Orleans, LA, Derek and Mallorie Letts, of NJ; great-grandchildren, Raegan Miller and Nolan Veluta; niece, nephew and cousins in Germany. She was predeceased by her son Robert W. Downing and her daughter Debra C. Letts.

Services: Private at the convenience of the family.  Interment will be in the Highland Memorial Park, Allentown. Arrangements by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., Allentown.  www.stephensfuneral.com.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or the Shriners Hospital for Children 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr.

Tampa, FL 33607.