The Dionne quintuplets are seen in bed with their mother, Elzire Dionne, in their farmhouse near Callander, Ont. on May 28, 1934. THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Dionne quintuplets are seen in a train car on a trip to Toronto in 1939. THE CANADIAN PRESS/National Archives of Canada
Cecile Dionne, left, and her sister Annette, two of the Dionne quintuplets, are seen in St-Bruno, Que., on Thursday, May 18, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Annette Dionne, one of the Dionne quintuplets, visits the original cabin she was born in, which was relocated to downtown North Bay, Ont., next to the North Bay Museum, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill
Elzire, back left, and Oliva Dionne stand with their quintuplets, Cecile, Yvonne, Marie, Emilie and Annette in this undated photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Cécile Dionne, one of the world-famous Dionne quintuplets, died on Monday, July 28, 2025, at the age of 91 following a long illness, a family spokesperson confirmed.
Cécile and her sisters became an instant global sensation from the moment of their birth in the Ontario community of Corbeil on May 28, 1934, as they became the first quintuplets known to survive past infancy.
Carlo Tarini, a spokesperson of the family, confirmed the death and told °µÍø½ûÇø that Cécile died early Monday morning.
"She lived her life with quiet dignity, exemplary discretion, and gentle humour, despite the hardships of a childhood lived in the public eye," reads an obituary Tarini shared.
Cécile weighed less than two pounds when she was born and dealt with osteoporosis and other ongoing health problems related to her premature birth. She also fought COVID-19 twice, Tarini said.
"She was not just a survivor, she was a real fighter. She showed remarkable strength of character," Tarini said in an interview Friday.
The Dionne quintuplets were hailed as a salve to the gloom of financial austerity at the peak of their Depression-era fame — but the sisters said the attention came at a personal cost.
Cécile and her sister Annette, who is now the last remaining quintuplet, spoke to °µÍø½ûÇø in 2019 and said parents should view childhood as a precious time that shouldn't be exploited for profit.
Here is a look back at the quintuplets in photos.
This report by °µÍø½ûÇø was first published Aug. 1, 2025.
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