Vanessa Downey-Little Obituary (1955 - 2024)

Vanessa was born to William (Bill) Robert Downey II and Louise Margaret Nicholas Downey (March 19, 1931-May 30, 2007) in New Orleans. The rain was so heavy and resulting accumulation of water on the streets that day was so severe that Vanessa's great Uncle Lawrence had to "plow the way" ahead of Grandfather Max's truck as he drove Mom Louise to the hospital. Vanessa's father, Bill, was stationed at Fort Benning and later drove through the night--through the same storm--to New Orleans to be there for her birth. In fact, Bill was so excited about Vanessa's pending birth that as he left Fort Benning, he forgot to put on socks and noticed--only after Vanessa's grandmother "Nikki" ruefully pointed it out--that he had on one black shoe and one brown shoe. The family later lived at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where Vanessa's younger brother, Maxwell (May 13, 1958-May 9, 1981), was born. The family also lived in Germany, where Vanessa learned enough German to become the family's interpreter. Vanessa's younger sister Alyssa (Edward Henderson) was born there, in an ambulance driving through the asparagus patch. (The family story is that she was born in an asparagus patch.) The family subsequently moved to San Antonio, where Vanessa spent her pre-teen and teenage years. Vanessa graduated from Highlands High School in 1973 as an Honor Graduate and a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a National Merit Scholar. That fall, she matriculated to the University of Texas. Always a serious student, Vanessa was an honor student and a regular member of the Dean's List. She graduated from the Honors Program in December 1976 with a B.A. in Sociology with Special Honors. Vanessa met Clarence Bernard (Bernie) Little in 1975. They began dating in 1976. Bernie estimates that he put 12,000 to 15,000 miles on his vehicle between December 1976 and August 1977, traveling from Denton and later Fort Worth to Austin. It didn't take long for both of them to realize "this was it"! They became engaged in the spring of 1977 and were married on October 22, 1977. Vanessa and Bernie remained happily and totally "yoked together" until the end came on the morning of February 10. They loved and supported each other through family celebrations, the challenges of illnesses, tragedies, and the loss of family loved ones and friends, as well as their own individual cancer journeys. They "had a good run" and far more ups than downs, but even the challenges led to greater commitment. In 1982, their daughter, Lauren Elaine (Ryan Scott), completed the family. Life changed, and Vanessa's primary objective for the next 18+ years was ensuring Lauren was exposed to every religious, educational, athletic, and cultural opportunity available. Lauren's well-being and welfare became the center of Vanessa's every decision. She even joined Jack and Jill Inc. of America, later becoming an officer in the local chapter, to help ensure Lauren's consistent participation and benefit. Great family friend (the late) Michael Banks used to joke that he never asked Vanessa how she was doing. Instead, he would ask how Lauren was doing because if Lauren was fine, Vanessa was going to be fine. In 1992, Vanessa "checked off" a long-standing goal when she graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) with an M.B.A. This was no easy feat given her family and professional roles and responsibilities at the time, but it was so typical of Vanessa that neither could deter her from completing her degree. Vanessa had a wonderfully successful career with the City of Austin. Most of her nearly 30 years there were in the field of human resources, and she was the Director of Human Resources and Civil Service when she retired in 2005. During this time, she also served as a trustee of the Austin Police Retirement System. Everyone who knew her professionally quickly learned that she was a consummate, committed professional who was driven to excellence. She took great personal pride in always providing the best service to City of Austin employees and, as a member of the executive team, support for the city manager. As a 50-year resident of Austin and nearly 30 years with the city, Vanessa came to meet and know many people. Always willing to help when asked, as a friend, she was highly dependable. If she said she would do something, she did it. She especially cherished 2 groups of friends. The relationships with her "Comadres" (Eyna, Lupe, and Rosy) and "sisters from different mothers" (Brenda, Adelita, and Karen) gave her some of her greatest joys over the years. Their ups and downs were her ups and downs and she greatly looked forward to their lunches, dinners, and adventures, often planning for them months in advance. She also knew the value of citizenship and over the years was engaged with her community. Among her civic involvements, she was a past board member of the Capital Area Food Bank (now Central Texas Food Bank); Leadership Austin (1993-94 Class); Any Baby Can board member (1994-99); Open Door Preschool Board (2003-07); and a mayoral appointee to the 1999 Austin ISD Superintendent Selection Committee. A lot of her success in life was due to her constant planning and list-making. She had a plan for everything! No task was too mundane for a plan and a list. She had four legal pads full of plans she developed for Lauren's wedding. The family expects to find her lists for months to come. Vanessa valued learning. She counted internet searching as her superpower--a skill she used extensively throughout her breast cancer journey. She always had a list of things she planned to learn, and mastering conversational Spanish was an ongoing goal. And she did crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp to be able to master the things she planned to learn. Her daily routine saw her rise hours before daybreak to complete the daily puzzles. Another prime interest involved cooking and learning new cooking techniques. Thanksgiving dinner with both sides of the family present was an opportunity to showcase new skills and recipes. Rarely was she unsuccessful with what she cooked, whether tried and true or brand new. Of all things outside her family, it was perhaps Holy Cross that had the most prominence. Always an active member dating back to 1980 when she and Bernie were co-directors of the youth ministry, Holy Cross only grew more and more in prominence over the years. While she may not have been involved and present at every function, the good of Holy Cross was always top of mind. She was a member of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary and was the "Queen of Petit Fours" for the Annual Mother- Daughter Tea. She thought of her time as a Finance Council member, offertory count team, and building fund finance team as a "calling," a vocation of sorts. But it was the Holy Cross Choir that really became "her thing" over the last 10-12 years. Though she joked, she "only added volume," her commitment to the choir was unwavering, and the joy she gained from being in the 8 o'clock choir and adding to the 8 o'clock worship experience cannot be expressed in words. Vanessa leaves behind Bernie, her husband of 46+ years, daughter Lauren and her husband Ryan, sister Lysa, her father, nieces: Monet, Brandi, and Madelyn, and nephew Van; great nieces Joci, More'a and Talia, great nephews Nicholas and Kade, and father-in-law Clarence (aka: Heavy). She also leaves behind the Barnum and Seraile first cousins, and a host of other cousins including those she gained by marriage. Now gone from our sight--but never our hearts--she leaves behind these family and friends who not only loved her but appreciated her for her talents and skills. Saying she will be missed hardly begins to express the magnitude of sorrow we now share. That said, her joy is now complete. Ours will come in the morning! In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the charities listed below the services chosen by Mrs. Downey-Little's family: