Dickey, Christiane Terraillon

Christiane Terraillon Dickey passed away May 15, 2013, at Cottage Grove Place, Cedar Rapids, surrounded by family members and friends. A celebration of her life will take place later this summer.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland on May 19, 1920, she grew up with her brother, Pierre. Christiane spent her youth in Grenoble and summer vacations near Toulouse in southern France, where the extended family had lived since the 13th century. Grenoble was where her love of the mountains and the outdoors was born. She enjoyed riding bicycles, hiking, and skiing. While she was in her last year of high school, she met the love of her life, Frank Dickey, when he came to stay at her house as a college student boarder. The thought of managing a relationship during the impending war with Germany was untenable, so they married in June 1940, and left for the United States, narrowly escaping the German invasion of France.

Christiane and Frank started their family in Santa Monica, Calif., and they raised four children, Dan, Terry, Marc and Claire. She quickly learned English and how to live the American way-of-life. Christiane gained a wide reputation as a fine French cook for Frank's business partners and clients. By the time Claire was in high school, she became a revered French teacher in private schools, and for several years, she chaperoned her students to France so they could meet, ski, and converse with French students of their own age.

Christiane was an avid artist, sketching scenes from travels around the United States and the world. She became an accomplished sculptor in clay and soapstone, and her artwork was exhibited or sold in community galleries. She filled her apartment with artwork she made or had collected over her 93 years of living.

She and Frank loved to travel widely, including Alaska, Brazil, Japan, Egypt, and many times to Europe. The French connection with Christiane's family remained strong and long lasting as they visited the Terraillon-related families for reunions, and they hosted them when they visited America.

Christiane and Frank enjoyed serving the Roxborough Park community as EMTs, docent naturalists at its state park in Colorado, and they were avid outdoor enthusiasts for skiing and hiking. Christiane and Frank moved in 2004 to Cedar Rapids, where they enjoyed their golden years with their family, friends and Cottage Grove residents.

The highlights of her life with Frank were the everlasting love and devotion they had for each other, and the joy and satisfaction all four children brought into their lives.

Christiane was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, of 70 years of marriage; and their son, Marc.

Christiane and Frank are survived by their children, Dan (Shirley), Terry (Wanda) and Claire Dickey Licht (Lou); grandsons, Danny (Angie), Misha (Kate), Emile and Pierre Chin-Dickey; stepgrandchildren, Jimmy Mayor (Theresa), Brian Mayor, Anne Knott, Johnny Mayor, Alexandra Fell (Jon) and Rusty Licht (Melinda); great-grandchildren, Mason, Evan and Emilia, Claire Elizabeth; stepgreat-grandchildren, Amy, Emily and Christine; and their extended family living in Europe.

The family thanks the assisted living nurses and staff at Cottage Grove Place for the dedicated nursing and personal care and the compassionate care of Hospice of Mercy.

Memorial donations may be sent to either Cottage Grove Place at 2115 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 or Hospice of Mercy, c/o Mercy Foundation at 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lensing Funeral Home in Iowa City.

Online condolences and memories may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com.

Published May 20, 2013 in The Gazette