Dorothy McCawley

Dorothy McCawley passed away on August 9th in Loris, SC at the age of 84 after battling a number of medical challenges. She was known as Dorothy Isman after marrying her first husband (Warren) in 1960, then Dorothy McCawley after marrying her second husband William “Bill” McCawley in the mid-1980s. Her third husband, Joseph De Miranda, called her Dorotinha (Little Dorothy in Portuguese) and added De Fatima on her last day of life in recognition of his Catholic faith and Dorothy’s growing belief after an incident where she believed a cancerous growth miraculously disappeared from her face after praying to the Virgin Mary.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Joseph De Miranda, her children Ken (Joan) Isman, Janet Isman, and David (Tammy) Isman, and her grandchildren Greg Isaacs and Nathan Berg. She is predeceased by her parents, her second husband Bill McCawley, and her daughter, Susan Isman.

After graduating from high school, Dorothy studied Chemistry at City College of New York before leaving during her Junior year to marry her high school sweetheart, Warren Isman. They moved to Maryland where she was a stay-at-home mother to their four children. Dorothy and Warren divorced in 1978.

In 1980, Dorothy graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Nutrition Science and worked planning meals and nutrition for the clients at a private care facility. She provided a home for two additional children, Timothy Irwin and Stanley Irwin, upon the passing of their father Paul Irwin. She married Bill McCawley and they loved to travel in their small RV and took many long vacations. When they both retired, they traveled all over the United States and Canada, looking for where they wanted to live. They settled in Myrtle Beach, SC, and lived happily there for many years, enjoying visits from children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

A life-long lover of music, Dorothy started a business as a DJ. Her encyclopedic knowledge of music of all genres made her a favorite of people of all ages. Dorothy had thousands of songs on records, tapes and CD’s and could always select just the right song for each moment of any important event. Dorothy and Bill were very active in the Myrtle Beach community; they served as editors of the newsletters for the Elks Club and NARFE, and were Founding members of Temple Shalom. Dorothy and Bill loved to help others and always volunteered to provide the music and entertainment at local fundraisers. Bill passed in 2015.

Dorothy had been friends with Joseph De Miranda for many years and they reconnected after Bill’s death, fell in love and married in 2016. Together, they moved to Little River and then Loris, SC. They loved and took care of each other in their quiet little home in Loris.

A graveside service will be held for Dorothy on Wednesday, August 16, at Parklawn Memorial Cemetery in Rockville, MD.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leefhandcrematory.com for the family.