MORGANTOWN, W.V. – Cecile (Dufresne) Dyke, born January 29, 1948, in Hardwick, Vt., died peacefully at her home in Morgantown, on Thursday, March 9, 2023, from complications due to Multiple Sclerosis. She had fought a hard decades-long battle with the illness, bravely facing each new challenge that the disease presented.
Cecile was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Raymond Dyke; her sister Louise Davis; and brothers-in-law John Dyke and Roy Dyke. She was the daughter of the late Armand Dufresne and Therese (Bellavance) Dufresne of Hardwick.
Cecile is survived by two daughters, Tabitha Sorensen whom she lived with, her son-in-law Adam Sorensen, and their children Lillian, Owen and Eliot; and Wendy Dyke of Andover, N.H., and her three girls Elizabeth, Emily, and Priscilla. She is also survived by her sisters Maggie Stockwell, Orise Ainsworth, and Leona Smith; her brothers Eugene Dufresne and Michael Dufresne; her sister-in-law Nancy Barr; brother-in-law Bob Dyke; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Cecile was a lifelong educator, whether it was as a teacher or para in a classroom, or as Mom, Grandma or Ceal at the dining room table. She worked with each child to help them understand and be the best they could be. Her great skills with math stayed with her to the very end; helping with math homework was a favorite activity. Cecile enjoyed living with Tabitha and her family in her retirement. She enjoyed Wendy’s visits to West Virginia with her girls. She spent many happy hours knitting and working on jigsaw puzzles. Cecile was a beloved Grandma and Ceal to her grandchildren, however they came to be part of her family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
There are no memorial services scheduled at this time. Donations can be made in memory of Cecile to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (nationalmssociety.org) and to St. Ursula Food Pantry and Outreach, Box 18 Pursglove, WV 26546, a local Morgantown, WV program that Cecile supported through her church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Star City, W.V.
Smith Funeral & Cremation Care and SFCC Crematory of Westover / Morgantown is providing care and guidance to the family.
Messages of comfort and other symbolic gestures for the family may be offered at smithfcc.com.