Dorothy M. Cavanaugh

Dorothy Cavanaugh, 100, of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2021, with loved ones at her side.

Dorothy was born on April 29, 1921, to Michael and Mary Makely in Jersey City, NJ. She married Raymond James Cavanaugh in 1946. They had three children: Brian Cavanaugh of Pittsford VT, Randi Allocca of Raleigh, NC and Wayne Cavanaugh of Kalamazoo, MI.

For more than 20 years, Dorothy worked as a Medical Transcriptionist at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, NJ. After retirement, she and Raymond moved to Cape May, NJ where she served as a eucharistic minister at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Well into her eighties, and never one to slow down, she decided to take a part-time job at a French bakery in Cape May where she delighted the customers with her ever-present smile and kind words.

A loving mother, Dorothy dedicated her entire life to her family and to bringing joy and smiles to everyone she met.  Until the day she passed, she had a sharp, brilliant mind, a keen sense of humor, constant smile, and some serious dance moves. Dorothy was an extraordinary woman of faith and positivity.  A fifty-five-year cancer survivor, she never spoke one word of complaint and saw the good in everyone.

While she lived most of her life near the Jersey shore, Dorothy and Raymond also spent several years in Raleigh, NC near her daughter Randi, and in Rutland, VT near her son Brian. In 2006 she and Raymond moved to Portage, MI near her son Wayne and his wife Cheryl. She loved to spend time with her children and their spouses and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a generous and gracious matriarch of the entire family.

Soon after her husband Raymond’s passing, Dorothy moved to her beautiful apartment in the Vineyard Assisted Living facility in Kalamazoo, MI a half mile from Wayne and Cheryl. The entire Vineyard staff quickly became part her extended family. For her 100th birthday, the Vineyard hosted an incredible party where Dorothy broke out all of her best moves on the dancefloor. Not many people on the planet could keep up with Dorothy’s sharp mind and quick feet, regardless of their age.

Dorothy was predeceased by her loving husband Raymond; her dear sisters, Betty Doscher and Helen Von Ohlen; and her brothers, George, Jack, and Bob Makely. She is survived by her sister, Geraldine Hembling of Fort Myers FL, son, Brian and his wife, Kay of Pittsford, VT, daughter, Randi and her husband, Peter of Raleigh, NC, son, Wayne and wife, Cheryl of Kalamazoo, MI; grandchildren, Jason Allocca and his wife, Heidi, Matthew Allocca, Hayley Bedeck and her husband, Benjamin, Brody Cavanaugh and his wife, Margaret; her great-granddaughters, Taylor Allocca, Mia Allocca, and Tatum Quinn Bedeck; many nieces and nephews; and a few good grand dogs and grand cats.

In memory of Dorothy, just smile, and share faith, hope, and love with all the people in your life and those you meet along the way. That is what she did with ease and grace, every single day of her wonderful life.