Vita Beatrice Dick

Vita Dick passed away on November 25, 2013 at the Phoenix Assisted Care Facility in Cary, NC. Vita was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa and was preceded in death by her parents, Sybil Hart Mayberry and Robert Thomas Mayberry; brothers Robert Desmond (Slim) and Constine (Connie), and sister Irma. She was married to William Val Dick for 32 years and is survived by her half-sister Shirley Mayberry Pope of Leadington, MO, and devoted sister-in-law, Donna Dick Hollingsworth of Hillsdale, IN. Surviving three daughters are Debbie (Ken) Spence of Garner, Deenie (Buster) Sears of Holly Springs, and Dianne (Dennis) Berry of Raleigh, NC.

Grandchildren include Bill Spence of Nampa, ID; Stephen Spence of Raleigh, NC; Todd Spence (Suzette) of El Paso, TX; Kit Spence (Lauren) of Greensboro, NC; Jonathan Spence (Rachel) of John’s Island – Charleston, SC; Jessica Spence Sutton of Wilmington, NC; and Michael Spence (Allison) of Raleigh, NC; Buck Sears of Clayton, NC and Rebecca Sears Barkley (Jason) of Fuquay-Varina, NC; and Denny Berry (Leah) of Raleigh, NC. Great-grandchildren include Liam and Raleigh Spence; Olive Spence; Logan Spence; Roscoe, Lyla, Emmett and Harry Spence; Jack and Will Spence; Alexander Sutton; Eva and Joey Barkley; and Amelia Berry.

Vita loved and was very active in her Catholic faith, volunteering countless hours, recording diocesan records, serving with the Altar Guild, participating in Catholic Golden Age Group activities, RCIA, and Parish Catholic Outreach. She survived a serious car accident in 1975, as well as both colon cancer and breast cancer, and was disabled for the past nine years due to a fall requiring two shoulders. and a hip replacement.

She graduated from Perryville, MO high school in 1942 and attended business school in Saint Louis, MO. Vita was a homemaker for thirteen years. She worked for Duke Power Company in Charlotte, NC from 1960 – 1963 and for North Carolina State University in Raleigh from 1964 until her retirement 1989. She was Employee of the Year at NCSU and a true State fan who loved watching Wolfpack football and basketball.

Her earlier hobbies included gardening (she had a ten green fingers), playing bridge with her bridge group (who have been waiting for her in heaven), cooking for the family, sewing (she made wedding dresses for all three of her daughters, numerous prom dresses, a christening gown for her first grandchild and Christmas matching outfits for all of her grandchildren in 1977). Vita also relished the fact that she once bowled a perfect game. For her 70th birthday, she flew to Rome and saw the Pope, with a group from Sacred Heart. Her favorite place in the world was always the beach and her last trip was June 2011.

The family will receive visitors Friday, November 29th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s Street in Raleigh. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, November 30th at 1:00 in Sacred Heart Cathedral, 200 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh at 1:00 p.m., followed by interment at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be contributed to the Helen Wright Center, Urban Ministries of Wake County, 1390 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27603; or to the Sacred Heart Cathedral Endowment Fund, 200 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Condolences may be posted through www.brownwynne.com.