Cecile Marie Soucy

Cecile Marie (Lacroix) Soucy, 80, lifelong resident of Manchester and recently Bedford, passed away peacefully at her home with family support on Friday, September 1, 2023.

She was born in Manchester on December 12, 1942, to Aldore and Marie (Veilleux) Lacroix, and was married to her loving husband, Bob, for over 61 years. Cecile was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Litchfield for most of her life and was most recently a communicant of St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Bedford.

Devoted to her family throughout her life, Cecile attended countless school and sports events to support her children and grandchildren. She traveled to be present at high school and college graduations, wedding and birthday celebrations, the births of her grandchildren, baptisms, and confirmations.  Cecile was a selfless volunteer for many community organizations including the Girl Scouts of America (Leader of Brownie Troop 145) and the Manchester, NH South Jr. Deb Softball League. She has volunteered to help at marathons and uncountable charitable events including walk-a-thons and penny sales, as well as serving as a Eucharistic Minister and Baptismal Prep co-coordinator with her husband Bob at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Cecile was a world traveler. She first became interested in international travel when she and Bob chaperoned a high school trip to Paris in 1986.  After that first trip, they traveled annually for 20 years to Europe and beyond with a group of friends. Cecile has been to most European countries, Morocco, Russia and throughout the Caribbean.  She and Bob enjoyed taking cruises in Alaska, down the Danube River, around Hawaii, and to Caribbean islands. Despite Cecile’s fear of heights, she and Bob made it their goal to find their way to the top of the tallest building in each of their destinations. Cecile also drove across the entire U.S.A., including the full 2,400 miles of Route 66, with Bob at her side.

Cecile was an accomplished artist and craftsperson. She was lauded for her decades of exquisite cake decorating. She was also an accomplished seamstress, knitter and quilt-maker. In their school-aged years, her children were recognized by their matching home-made outfits at every holiday. Her grandchildren grew up wrapped in the love she put into their baby quilts and many years of custom flannel pajamas. She was known far-and-wide as a cut-throat card player and master jigsaw puzzler.

Those who knew her well knew that Cecile loved practical jokes, surprises, and just having fun. She liked to camouflage small presents in big boxes, host surprise parties, sneak love notes in lunch boxes, and hide a family member’s keys just for fun so they would have to stay longer. Always young at heart, she enjoyed playing frisbee and softball, getting her hands dirty in the garden, and, of course, building a snowman every time it snowed.

Cecile will be deeply missed by her husband Bob, children Robert Soucy and his wife Karol of Bedford, Lynn Wheeler of Bridport, VT, Sharon McCrone and her husband Matthew of Durham, Sandra Soucy and her husband Alfonso Capone of Fairfield, VT, and Sheryl Soucy-Lubell and her husband Mark Lubell of Davis, CA; eighteen grandchildren and, at the time of her passing, eleven great-grandchildren. Cecile is also survived by her siblings Louise (LeClerc), Gerald, and Donald and is predeceased by her siblings Roger and Roland.

A memorial gathering will take place at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St. on Sunday, September 17^th from 3 to 5 PM. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 18^th at 10:00 AM in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Litchfield, Committal services will follow in St. Augustin Cemetery. To view an online tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit https://www.phaneuf.net