Dorrance, Marilyn Theresa

Marilyn Theresa Dorrance, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Cottage Grove Place, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday, March 21, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Father Christopher Podhajsky, Father Gerald Condon and Father Charles Duster. Visitation: 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 5 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

She is survived by four children, Scott (Lorie) Dorrance of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Shelley (Brian Donohoe) Dorrance of Cedar Rapids, Dan (Ava) Dorrance of Red Oak, Iowa, and Chris (Michele) Dorrance of Cedar Rapids.

Marilyn was Grammie to Conner, Nolan, Miles, John, Caden and Miranda; and Roto Rooter Grandma to Nathan, Johnny, Katie and Kristin.

Also surviving are a cousin, Robin Sage; best neighbor, Petie Jones; her I.C. girlfriends, Katie Enns, Mona Hayes, Mary Ironside, Doris Neal, Joey Vermeersch and Joan McCaffrey; and her cat, Callie May.

Marilyn was born July 17, 1930, in Manchester, Iowa, the daughter of Arthur and Beatrice (Woods) May. On Dec. 19, 1953, she married James N. Dorrance in Cedar Rapids. She worked for Kutchera Construction Co. from 1962-1980 and then Roto Rooter from 1981 until retiring in 2006.

Since 1939, she has been an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Marilyn spent many hours volunteering for her church and the hospital and was always there for anyone who needed anything. Her family was always proud to hear people say, “Oh I love your Mom.”

Marilyn especially enjoyed spending time with her family and being “Grammie.” She was well-known for her cookies and enjoyed traveling to her favorite places, including Lake Vermillion, Minn., Fort Pierce, Fla., and Echo Lake, Maine.

Some of her other hobbies included cross stitch, playing cards and taking care of her house and yard on Washington Avenue, which had been in the family since 1944.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James in 1979; I.C. girlfriend, Didge Neuhaus; cousin, Betty Heefner; and her many 4-legged friends from over the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hospice of Mercy, or the Xavier Foundation.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Marilyn at