FAYETTEVILLE — Callie McDonald Breden,

61, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away peacefully on Friday, September 17, 2021, at home in the company of her adoring family. She fought a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer, and never once complained.

Callie was born on December 10, 1959, the first of four children and only daughter of Dr. Harold P. McDonald II and Sue Marie (Laws) McDonald, both of whom predeceased her. She attended Darlington School in Rome, Ga., and Hutchinson School in Memphis, Tenn., and earned her degree from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Callie worked for several years for Procter & Gamble, where she met Mark, her loving husband of 34 years. After stints in St. Louis and Buenos Aires, Callie and her family settled in Fayetteville where they have been fixtures in the community.

In addition to her husband, Callie is survived by her brothers, Steven McDonald of Atlanta, Ga., Paul McDonald and his wife Karen of Marietta, Ga., David McDonald and his wife Debbie of Pensacola, Fla.; by her son, Mick Breden of Fayetteville; and her three daughters, Sue Marie Breden and her husband Drew Cunningham of Hamden, Conn., Hannah Breden, and Ellie Breden of Fayetteville; and by her new granddaughter and namesake, Callie Cunningham, who has some big shoes to fill.

Callie was a force of nature — thunderously cheerful, profoundly creative, and relentlessly energetic. Ever engaged in the lives and activities of her children, Callie relished her role as everybody’s second mom. Somehow, even when her car would be filled to the brim with craft supplies and tomorrow’s tailgate, she always seemed to have an extra seat and a spare pair of cleats when someone needed a ride or forgot their stuff. If her kids had a softball or soccer tournament, Callie could be counted on to run the concession stand (and turn a tidy profit for the club). Many a Razorbacks Soccer tailgate came to fruition through the sheer force of her will.

Never content to waste an opportunity to gather and celebrate, Callie was both the hostess and the life of countless parties for her infinitely wide circle of family, friends, acquaintances, and guests. And Callie’s guest lists were not small, because no one was ever a stranger for long in her company. Even as her cancer made everything more difficult and painful, she could not resist throwing a barbeque whenever things got a little too restful. Her epic collection of cookbooks, tableware, decorations, artwork, stories, jokes, and handy tips would make many a television personality jealous. Her family is confident that every grocer, flower shop, movie theater, and craft store within fifty miles will mourn her almost as much as they will.

But all of this was on top of Callie’s most abiding devotions: her faith in God and her vocation as wife and mother. She spent considerable time in prayer and rendered extraordinary service to the Church through Bible study, Eucharistic Adoration, and various funeral ministries. For her husband and children and grandchild, Callie was the light of the world: an endless source of comfort, strength, courage, and joy. Callie’s laughter came easily, often, and loudly. In the quiet of its absence, those she loved will carry with them the wisdom, patience, and grace she gave so freely and selflessly.

A rosary will be recited for the repose of her soul on Thursday, September 23rd, at 5 p.m. at the Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville, with a visitation to follow immediately thereafter at 5:30-7 p.m. All are welcome to come. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 24th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church and School in Fayetteville. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. If you are unable to attend but would like to view the service online please go to the Saint Joseph Catholic Church Facebook page

Memorial contributions in Callie’s name may be made to Ozark Catholic Academy, 192 East Henri de Tonti Blvd., Springdale, Ark. 72762.

To sign the online guest book, please visit: www.bernafuneralhomes.com .