Mrs. Margaret H. Simmons Dowdell, 94 a resident of the Presbyterian Home for CNY in New Hartford, formerly of Deerfield passed away on Friday April 8, 2011 at the nursing home. Margaret was born August 11, 1916 in Ogdensburg, NY the daughter of the late John D. and Helen A. (Brugeon) Douglas. She attended St. Mary's School in Ogdensburg until 1929 when she moved to Utica where she attended St. Francis de Sales school and graduated from Utica Free Academy. She then attended Excelsior School of Business. In 1939, Margaret married Leo J. Simmons in St. Mary's Chapel in Saranac Lake. Mr. Simmons died in 1954. In 1969 she married John T. Dowdell of Utica. Mr. Dowdell died on May 12, 1995. Margaret was employed with the Federal Courts before retiring in 1969. She was a member of Historic Old St. John's Church in a Utica, the Ladies Guild at the church and AARP. Mrs. Dowdell is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Robin Simmons of Barneveld; a daughter and son-in-law, Genny and Thomas Benz of Whitesboro; five grandchildren and their spouses, Brian and Noreen Benz of Connecticut, Mark Benz of Utica, David and Julie Benz of Vermont, Danielle and Gregory Foster of Alaska and Erin Simmons and Tejal Patel of Massachusetts; seven great grandchildren, Matthew Benz, Andrew Benz, Ryan Benz, Eric Benz, Riven Patel, Emily Benz and Emma Shay Foster; two sisters, Sister Mary Jude of Buffalo (the former Terry Douglas of Utica) and Mrs. Jeanne Pflanz of Florida; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Shirley Douglas of Utica and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sisters, Genevieve Douglas and Elizabeth Sullivan and two brothers, Richard Douglas and John Douglas. Mrs. Dowdell's funeral will be held on Tuesday April 12, 2011 at 9:45 a.m. at the Heintz Funeral Home 408 Herkimer Rd., N. Utica and 10:30 at Historic Old St. John's Church where her mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in Notre Dame Cemetery in Malone NY; Calling hours for family and friends are Monday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in Margaret's memory, please do so to a charity of your choice.