Dorothy Marie (Tryder) McDonald

Dorothy Marie McDonald of Newburyport, formerly of Lynnfield, beloved wife of the late Thomas E. McDonald, passed away July 9 with family by her side. She is survived by Patricia and Vincent Riggi of Georgetown, Kathryn and Rick Clunie of Newburyport, Thomas McDonald of Newburyport, Bryan McDonald of Boxford, and Maureen “Missy” McDonald of Newburyport; by the grandchildren she adored, Emily (Riggi) O’Connor and her husband Kyle of Beverly, Lindsay and Lesley Clunie of Portland, Maine, Joe Riggi and his wife Emily of Salisbury, and Robby, Addison, and Olivia McDonald of Topsfield; and by four great-grandchildren for whom she relished being “GG”—Rory and Sam O’Connor, and Thomas and Madelyn Riggi.

The daughter of William and Helen Tryder, Dot grew up in Charlestown and Malden in a large loving family, graduating from Malden High School at fifteen. She then began a career that took her to the National Labor Relations Board, where she met her husband Tom, and after some years as a full-time mom, to the Lynnfield School Department. Her speed at stenography and typing were legendary—and her children are forever grateful for the late-night assistance that got most of their essays turned in on time.

Family remained especially important to Dot throughout her life. She loved hosting the Tryder and McDonald cookouts in Lynnfield that created many cherished memories for her extended family, Tryder reunions at the Bunker Hill Day Parade, the traveling McDonald reunions, and summers at the lake house she bought in Waterboro, Maine to accommodate as many family members as possible. Adults were invited to enjoy some of Nana Dot’s special summer slush on the deck at Happy Hour—if you were still sleeping in the loft bedroom, you were probably too young to have any. Every family member could count on seeing Mom and later Nana Dot at countless concerts, recitals, plays, courts, and ice rinks, and on the sidelines of the playing fields in the aluminum and plastic webbing folding chair she always kept at the ready in her car, braving all manner of poor conditions as a dedicated fan.

An accomplished knitter, Dot outfitted her family and generations of babies with Irish-knit sweaters—when a family member was sure enough about someone they were dating to be thinking about the future, a sure sign that the new addition was “in” was a sweater at Christmas. Once rings were exchanged, Dot would craft a handmade Christmas stocking with the name of the new family member cross-stitched on the cuff. And each summer she would begin preparing the cross-stitched Christmas ornaments that fill her family's holiday trees.

Dot retired and moved to Newburyport to be closer to her grandchildren, who were always welcome at the house whether or not a parent was visiting with them, greeted with “Hello Dahlin’!” and an offer of something “good to eat.” After eating something good, there was always the jar of Jolly Ranchers on the coffee table or the caramel targets.

Family and friends may call from 10:00 AM to Noon at the Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home, 193 High Street, Newburyport on Saturday, July 27, 2024 followed by a service at the funeral home. Burial will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Neighbors’ Table in Amesbury, MA.

For directions or to offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com

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