Dorothy May McCormack

Dorothy May (Cade) McCormack, age 98, went home to the Lord on May 18, 2026. Dorothy was born on February 25, 1928, in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Fred and Eva Cade and the third of their nine children. She was educated in Canada where her upbringing in the Baptist faith formed her lifelong commitment to the Lord. She sang in the church choir and taught Sunday school. She met the love of her life, John McCormack, when she chased him out of his college classroom so that she could complete her cleaning duties. John was a US citizen who moved to Canada with his family in 1932. Dorothy converted to Catholicism before their wedding and left her home country behind to move to the US. John and Dorothy were married on April 7, 1948, at St. Mary’s Church, Simcoe, Ontario. They lived in Norfolk, Virginia for a year, then moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa where all eleven of their children were born. The family was transferred to Austin, MN by the George A. Hormel, Co. in 1965. Dorothy realized her lifelong ambition of becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse when she returned to school as an adult, graduating at the top of her class from Austin Vocational School in 1971. She worked at St. Olaf Hospital for 14 years, providing quality care with a compassionate manner. She continued her career as a Home Health Nurse, endearing herself to many of her patients and families, before retiring at the age of 76. She and John were faithful members of St. Augustine Catholic Church and supporters of Catholic education, sacrificing to enable their eleven children to graduate from Pacelli High School.

Dorothy’s life was forever changed when her dear husband, John, went to Heaven in 1985. Her faith in the Resurrection and fidelity to her husband sustained her. Family meant the world to Dorothy, and she hosted and organized numerous reunions, adopting the extended McCormack family as her own. The highlight of many summers was the gathering up North, often renting out the whole lake resort. She excelled at providing enough food to feed an army! Dorothy enjoyed growing a garden into her 90s and her yard was filled with a beautiful array of flowers. Other pastimes were playing cards with the grandkids, numerous games of solitaire and gin, and there was not a crossword puzzle she couldn’t solve. In her later years, she became an avid Twins and Vikings fan; her Vikings sweatshirt was donned on game days, one of the rare times when she did not wear her signature blue.

Dorothy is survived by eight children who are forever grateful for her loving care, Stephen, Brooklyn Park, MN, Michelle (Lance Jacobs), Regent, ND, Mary Elizabeth, Austin, MN, Kelley (Fred) Limberg, Bella Vista, AR, Dennis (Myrleen), Austin, MN, Patrick (Lisa), Edina, MN, David, Aitkin, MN, and Theresa (Greg) Jacobs, Aitkin, MN; a son-in-law, Michael Thompson, Dexter, MI; a daughter-in-law, Betty McCormack, Stewartville, MN; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and one on the way; and two sisters in Canada. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; daughters, Mary Kathleen and Colleen; son, Michael; daughter-in-law, Hanh; one sister; and five brothers.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Dorothy will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Austin. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.