Sybil D. Yocum

On the night of 11 October 2024, Sybil Dennison Yocum departed this life in Viera, Florida, peacefully holding the hand of her beloved husband of 53 years and comforted by the presence of her sister Rene Masek, niece Aimee Long and her husband Jim.

Sybil was born in Chicago, IL on 22 April 1948 to the late William Arthur and Betty Jane (Kunik) Dennison and spent the rest of her life in near perpetual motion. The daughter of a Marine Corps and later civilian corporate pilot, she spent her childhood moving throughout the US with her family until they finally settled in Morrisville, PA when her father was appointed Head of Aviation for Amerada Hess Corporation in 1964. She graduated from Pennsbury High School in 1967, then later attended Wilfred Academy in Philadelphia and upon receiving her beautician license was proud to attest to NOT having been the ‘Beauty School Dropout’ of “Grease” notoriety and began fashioning her career as a cosmetician.

Sybil married her high school sweetheart and newly commissioned Ensign William E. Yocum, Jr. on 12 June 1971 and was on the move again to Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii and Spain. Sybil finally settled in Charleston, SC in 1979 after Bill resigned his commission. Deciding that her now obvious passion for travel would be better served if she entered the travel business, she earned an associate’s degree in Travel and Tourism and became a full-time travel agent. She embraced the career change, and her personal and professional travels took her to some 74 nations/islands, 38 states and DC.

Her other true passion was performing and teaching Oriental Dance (belly dance). Sybil was introduced to the art just prior to moving to Spain in 1977 where she trained under a Moroccan style dancer. She performed professionally for the first time in Tangier, Morocco in 1978. After returning to the US in 1979 she continued taking lessons, attending workshops and haflas, always searching for kindred spirits interested in forming a dance troupe. She soon became a founding member of the Palmetto Oasis Middle Eastern Dance Troupe, ultimately becoming troupe leader as well as an accomplished instructor. All the while she danced, danced, danced, bringing joy to dancers and audiences alike.

Retirement to Florida in 2012 did little to dim her enthusiasm for life, nor did her bilateral lung transplant surgery in 2015. Through dedication and perseverance, she accomplished her primary post-surgery goal of again participating in a Ms. Senior Florida pageant where her featured talent was, of course, Oriental Dance, and her message was the importance of organ donation. Always busy and active in the Indian River Colony Club community, she taught water aerobics and chair weightlifting, participated in theater productions, taught belly dance classes, and was the primary motivating force in establishing the ‘Honor Bells’ bell choir. She was kind and generous to family, friends, and strangers alike.

Sybil is survived by her adoring husband Bill and sisters Rene and Deirdre as well as many loving nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all those caught up by her infectious energy, enthusiasm and unwavering optimism. Ever the instigator and planner, no event, excursion or

travel adventure ever ended before she had begun researching and planning the next one, as well as recruiting willing participants.

With an outlook on life which defied description and was often unfathomable to others, she was fearless and relentless in pursuit of her goals. At the time of her death her passions were undimmed. She was planning a return to teaching, traveling, and entertaining friends. Like George Carlin, she never viewed the glass as either half empty or half full; it was simply a glass too big.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:30 on 12 November in the Indian River Colony Club Chapel followed by a reception and Celebration of Life at the IRCC Colony Hall from noon until 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Sybil, to further the work of the Mayo Clinic in providing life extending organ transplants and transplant research. Her gratitude for the nine years of quality life afforded her because of her lung transplant in 2015 was boundless. https://give.mayoclinic.org/give/609586/#!/donation/checkout