Date of Birth:
Wednesday, January 21, 1925
Date of Death:
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Age:
96 years old

Dorothy “Dott” Marie Van Hook

Dorothy (Dott) Marie McCarthy Van Hook passed on to her next life in heaven on August 11, 2021 at Cottagewood Care Center. She was born the last child of Elizabeth (Bess) and John (Jack) McCarthy on January 21, 1925.

After high school in Mound, MN, Dott was accepted into the prestigious Mendel Cain Beauty School in Minneapolis. There she met the dapper Emory Edward Van Hook—or Van. They joined in marriage on November 11, 1948 and remained together in life, love, and friendship until his death in 2013. With their new hairdressers’ licenses, they opened their first beauty salon in Wheaton, MN in west central MN. Van and Dott welcomed their daughter, Jane, the following year and son, John, three years later. They were a well-known little family, riding around town on their bicycles and making life-long friends. In 1953, they relocated to Rochester where the Van Hook family had lived for many generations. There they opened a bigger and better Van’s Beauty Salon and Dott became a stay-at-home mom with sons, Dan and Jim, and daughter, Tami, completing the family. As her children grew up, she again joined with Van as a working hairdresser. They created smaller salons in several retirement and assisted living facilities.

The Catholic Church was an important part of Dott and Van’s lives. They were devoted members of St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church where she was involved in the women’s circles, church events, and celebrations. As life progressed, Dott’s relationship with God became more personal and private. Her prayers and devotional readings were a source of solace and strength for her, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Ultimate Mother.

Dott was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi social sorority. She loved the comradery and close friendship of women who, like herself, were seeking to learn more about the world, culture, and themselves. Here, she further developed her natural talents for entertainment, fashion, and pageantry with like-minded friends.

Being of Irish heritage was a source of pride and fun for Dott.  Every St Patrick’s Day there was much wearing of the green and gatherings of family and friends for food and festivities.

Dott loved decorating, sewing, and knitting. Her home was always in a state of being redecorated, rearranged, or ­­­­­­­­­­­­organized. No corner escaped her nearly unlimited energy. Even the garage and attic were magazine orderly. She knitted like she did everything else. Fast with perfect results. Cooking was not Dott’s favorite but she liked to bake. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and many cookies, cakes, and candies were created and consumed at the Van Hook household each year.

Dott is survived by her five children: Jane (John) Olive, John (Julie) VanHook, Dan (Connie Bruce) VanHook, Jim (Amy) VanHook, Tami (Jamie) White, 13 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emory, of 64 years and her grandson, Emery.

A celebration Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 16, 2021 at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with a visitation one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.