Cecile Hasselbrink

Cecile "Cissy" Hasselbrink, 82, born on July 15, 1941, in Fairfield, AL, United States, passed away July 05, 2024. She resided in Monrovia, CA at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the care of Douglass & Zook Funeral and Cremation Services, Monrovia, CA.  She is survived by her sons Charlie (Monrovia, California), Dan (Concord, California), and Roger (Fort Washington, Maryland); and her sister, Joan McCay (Birmingham, Alabama). 

After graduating from Jacksonville State College she worked jobs for the phone company, for Shaw-Walker, and also as a high school English teacher, spending much of her 20's with her best friend Charlotte. Eventually when she met a USAF pilot and soon-to-be husband Ernie Hasselbrink. They lived a military family life with several moves, including Victorville California; Huntington Beach, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Alexandria, Virginia where Cecile worked part-time as a government administrator and as a church secretary for Calvary Presbyterian Church. Eventually the family moved to Thousand Oaks, California, where Cecile worked as an account executive with American Savings, and later as director of sales at the Clarion Hotel in Simi Valley. After her 20-year marriage ended, Cecile moved back to the Birmingham area to take care of her aging mother, Nell Feemster, while continuing to work as a hotel sales director. After Nell’s passing she retired to Rossmoor village in Walnut Creek, California, and finally to Monrovia, California.

Cecile defined her life by caring for others. The first and foremost example is the care she gave to her middle son, Dan, who has multiple cerebral palsy-like handicaps due to complications at birth. By the time Dan was about 8 years old, Cecile and Ernie had been told by many county services administrators that Dan would never walk. Undeterred, they spent tireless hours working to obtain physical therapy services for Dan, and eventually, Dan was admitted to the Matheny School in Peapack, NJ.  He began walking with loftstrand canes after just one month at Matheny, and walked for many years as a result of their efforts.  Cecile was Dan’s primary caregiver until she was nearly 80 years old.  Cecile also for many years cared for her mother, Nell. After Nell was diagnosed with dementia, Cecile moved to Trussville, and Nell lived with Cecile until Nell’s passing. 

Two celebrations of life are being held: first, a celebration of life in Monrovia California at Douglass & Zook Funeral Home, 600 E Foothill Blvd, Monrovia (details on this website), 2:30-5pm Sat July 27, 2024.   Second, her funeral will be held on Aug 10 at 10am, at Ridout's Forest Hill cemetery. Cecile’s ashes will rest adjacent to her father and mother at Forest Hill cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in Cecile’s name to the Matheny School (a 501(c)3 organization): https://matheny.org/ways-to-give