Cathleen Cain

Cathleen Mary Cain passed away June 12, 2020, in Rochester, MN. She was born to Mary Margaret Corkery Cain and Thomas Lawrence Cain in Des Plaines, IL, on September 11, 1956.   Cathleen was diagnosed with Down Syndrome as a baby and lived with her parents, growing up in Burlington, IA.  After her parents passed, she lived the rest of her days in good care at Charter House in Rochester, MN, a retirement home owned by Mayo Clinic.

She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Burlington and also St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester.  Cathleen was a 4H member and received many red, blue and white ribbons for her projects. She won 52 gold, silver and bronze medals for swimming in the Iowa Special Olympics. She was chosen as the torch bearer for Special Olympics in 1989 in Des Moines and was also Grand Marshal of the Burlington Steamboat Days parade that year. She was proud of her medals and liked to wear one of them, telling everyone “I won”.

Cathleen’s parents owned McDonald’s restaurants, and she traveled with them to meetings and conventions. She went to England, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, and Israel, and she even rode a camel in Egypt. They also traveled all over the USA, her favorites were Hawaii and Disneyworld.

Cathleen’s two favorite things to do were eating and dancing. Her mother was an excellent cook, but Cathleen loved to eat out at nice restaurants. Her favorite music was Donny and Marie. She would be the first on the dance floor and wouldn’t sit down until she was in the car to go home.  Her favorite colors were pink and purple, and when she had to start using a wheelchair, she got a pink one.

Cathleen was a happy girl, always laughing and enjoying life.  Her mother was a schoolteacher and taught her to read and write.  She attended Hope Haven workshop in Burlington and ABC in Rochester.

She is survived by her guardian, Joanne Ott and family; four aunts:  Gladys Daniels, Sr. Thecla Cain, Veronica Dyer and Rita Cain; Godmother, Betty Riley; many cousins; special friend, Jo Payne; Ross Mattke, who fed her breakfast the last 5 years; special friends, Bob and Karen Hummel, and multitudes of friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Colleen Cain; brother, Thomas C. Cain; grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and Godfather, Jack Riley.

A family Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Catholic Church in Fayette, IA, with burial in St Francis Cemetery, Fayette.

The family respectfully asks that memorials be directed to Hope Haven, 828 N 7th, Burlington, IA 52601, and to ABC, 1911 - 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Cathleen’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.  Winona, MN.

Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home of Winona is assisting the family with arrangements.