Cordula Dorotea (Berndt) MacDonald

Cordula Dorotea MacDonald, or Cordy as everyone knew her, was the essence of kindness, optimism, and strength throughout her vibrant Christian life. Cordula means “sweetheart,” and that she was to everyone who met her.

Born on November 3, 1964, in the picturesque city of Valparaiso, Chile, Cordy's journey on earth came to a peaceful end on September 30, 2025, at the age of 60, in Downers Grove, Illinois. Her life was a testament to the power of kindness and understanding. She always stressed the importance of putting herself in another’s shoes.

Cordy's early years in Argentina laid the foundation of her adventurous spirit, where she spent time in nature and climbed trees. At the age of fourteen, Cordy moved to Loredo, Texas, where she quickly learned English through the patience of her mother and the interactions with her fellow students. After high school, Cordy made her way to Concordia College in Nebraska, where she earned a B.S. in Education with a Field Endorsement in Natural Sciences. This qualified her to teach science, especially her favorites, chemistry and biology. After graduation, she moved to Concordia, Missouri, to teach science at St. Paul’s Lutheran High School—a boarding school where she inspired her students with fun experiments and a kind heart. She was a keen and thoughtful teacher, understanding that each student is different and sometimes needs a tailored approach to succeed.

Later, she moved to Chicago and transitioned into the transportation and logistics industry, where she was admired by her workmates and clients for her work ethic, attention to detail, kindness, and patience in a chaotic business known for its harried pace and last-minute changes. As the teacher she was, Cordy loved mentoring her co-workers. And they loved her back for her unwavering patience and understanding, and the gift of her methodical teaching style.

When not on the job, Cordy pursued her hobbies. Her love for nature was profound. She could often be found backpacking through uncharted terrains, including long adventures into the backcountry with her sister and family, sometimes carrying one of the young ones on her back to cross a stream. Later, she passed on her love of the backcountry to her husband, Mike. Their first trip was a doozy, where they ventured into the wilds of the Grand Tetons, not knowing that their first day would take them up the most difficult trail in the United States, Static Peak Divide, each donning sixty-two-pound backpacks. Cordy was as strong as she was tender.

As an award-winning photographer in the camera clubs of the Chicago region, she captured nature's fleeting moments with her recognizable style. As a gifted native-plant gardener, Cordy would transform tangles of short and tall plants into a wild, orderly beauty. When indoors, Cordy loved to play board games and met regularly with friends to share laughter and camaraderie, which was far more important to her than winning. Her humor was often goofy, but also quite clever and insightful, which made her husband proud.

Cordy exuded a quiet charisma. People would be drawn into her tranquil orbit by her bright smile and her ever-present sense of calmness. Hanging out with Cordy felt good and safe. She was a rare hug in our chaotic world.

Cordy exuded a subtle sartorial panache. Known for her colorful fashion sense, she loved wearing vibrant and subtly distinctive clothing and eyewear that emphasized her glowing, sophisticated personality. And though she was shy about standing in the spotlight, rarely did a day go by that she didn’t receive a compliment about her style.

A gentle Christian, Cordy lived her faith through love and action. Her life reflected the kindness and optimism that she believed were the cornerstones of a well-lived life. Cordy's life was a living sermon, her actions speaking volumes of the love and grace she believed in so fervently. Cordy was a ray of sunshine for her cherished husband, Mike, and all who passed through her light.

The shining star that was Cordy is survived by a constellation of family members who basked in her love and warmth. Her cherished husband, Michael MacDonald, walks forward with her spirit etched in his heart. She was beloved by her brother, Jerry Berndt, and sister-in-law, Yolanda, sister Ursula Abresch, and brother-in-law, Ron Abresch; nieces and nephews, Vero, Gabriela, and Laura Berndt; Martin, Mariana, Jonathan, Laura, and Ximena Abresch; and Nicole, Bryanna, Cody, and Laura MacDonald; great-nieces and nephews, Daniel Berndt, and Gwen and Sully MacLaury. Cordy’s spirit will be missed by countless family members in both North and South America and her many dear friends with whom she spent so much of her time and who were the recipients of her boundless humor and kindness. She is preceded in death by her parents, Juan and Erma Berndt, and her brothers, Ronny and Cristian.

Let us celebrate Cordy's life, not with tears of sorrow, but with the joy she so generously spread. Her legacy is not of a life concluded, but one of inspiration that continues to echo in the hearts and actions of those she touched. Cordy's journey reminds us all to face each day with strength, to live with a heart full of kindness, and to embrace life's adventure with unyielding optimism.

She wore her smile effortlessly to the end.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation PO Box 24041, New York, New York  10087, are greatly appreciated.

CELEBRATION OF CORDY’S COLORFUL LIFE

Saturday, November 15
Visitation: 9:30 – 11:00 AM
Service: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

1) Please dress as vibrantly as you can to honor Cordy’s spirit.
2) If you could, please bring a letter written to Cordy, letting her and her family know what she meant to you.

Peace Lutheran Church
21W500 Butterfield Road
Lombard, Illinois 60148