Birthe Jonna McCabe

Birthe Jonna McCabe, née Pedersen, 89, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026, in Bethesda, Maryland. Beloved wife of the late James William McCabe, Jr.; mother of Linda (Michael), Andrew, and Marianne; grandmother of Izzy and Sonja; sister of Ebba Russell and Max Pedersen. She is survived by a host of family and friends and will be deeply missed.

Birthe was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1937. She grew up under the Nazi occupation and during the lean post-war years and brought that perspective to bear throughout her life. At 18 she emigrated to the United States, where she worked for many years as a nanny while she learned English. She met James at a church dance, and they married in 1969.

After starting a family, they moved to Bethesda in 1976. Birthe was a dedicated wife and mother, and a persistent advocate for each of her children. She was an incredibly creative person, able to sew anything from clothing and costumes to dolls and toys. She was also a prolific poet and often regaled her friends with her latest poem. An avid gardener, she could bring any plant to life, and her garden was the envy of the neighborhood. When her children had grown, she shared her talent as a “baby-whisperer” with other families in the neighborhood.

She was a proud Dane and an active member of the Danish Club of Washington, D.C., from the early 1960s. In later years, she volunteered making traditional crafts sold in the greenery booth at the annual bazaar. She proudly shared Danish traditions with her family. She was an even prouder American, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1994, but only after taking every single American history class on offer at Montgomery College. She engaged in local civic issues and was ever ready to start a letter-writing campaign.

Birthe was a lady of faith. A steadfast presence with her family in church, she was a long-time parishioner at St. Jane Frances de Chantal. She was active in the early years of the Special Religious Education program at St. Jane’s and formally converted to Catholicism in 2017.

Relatives and friends may call at St. Jane Frances de Chantal, 9701 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, Maryland, on Wednesday, May 27th, beginning at 10:00 am, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am. A reception will be held at Knights of Columbus Rock Creek Council, 5417 West Cedar Lane, Bethesda, Maryland, immediately following the Mass. Birthe will be interred on Friday, May 29th, at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Floral arrangements may be sent directly to Joseph Gawler’s Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, 20016, by Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.