My Dear Aunt Cindy...

Cindy has been fighting and suffering with cancer for almost 7 years and this morning my Aunt passed away. It has been hard watching someone so wonderful have a disease that slowly has taken over her body. I just wanted to take some time to reflect on everything I loved and looked up to about her (there are an abundance of reasons, but here are a few that stand out in my mind):

This is a picture of Cindy (left) and my Mom (right) in 2007.

1. She had an endless amount of love in her heart, for her children, her husband, her family, her friends, for everyone.

Angie and Cindy

2. She always fought for her goals and dreams and made us fight for our own too. I remember, in college sophomore year, giving up on school. My grades suffered, I had stopped going to my classes regularly, and I was about to go on academic probation. Cindy and Grandma both found out about my grades, drove right on up to ECU and somehow made me reexamine why I was there in the first place and why I couldn't give up. Let's just say I graduated and then went on to Grad School.

3. She was so creative...she painted, sewed, stitched, quilted, drew, etc. and always made a huge effort to let us express our creativity through crafts. My favorite times were sitting with Cindy and my cousins at the big dinner table scrapbooking and painting for hours.

4. She was selfless and wanted everyone to have what they needed. She even adopted 3 children after already raising her 5 children because she couldn't watch them suffer once their father had passed. She had never given up on them through the transition from one household to another.

5. Cindy always wanted our family to be close together. I remember her driving with my Grandma and cousins, all the way to Mexico just to see us (when we lived there in 1988). She would drop everything just to be with us.

6. She gave the best lectures. I hated getting in trouble with anyone, but it was so different with Cindy. She would call me into her room, shut the door, and give me a long lecture on what I had done. I remember hating these lectures at the time, but as I look back, I needed the them and think of them often. It's funny because as a teacher, I find myself gathering my class into the classroom, shutting the door, and doing the exact same thing! I learned more about myself during those times than I did any other.

7. Cindy loved the church, Heavenly Father, and Jesus. She made sure religion and the teachings of the Gospel were practiced by all of us. It is comforting knowing that she is no longer in pain and is in a place where she can walk with loved ones. Her spirit is forever with us!

8. Cindy loved family gatherings. Every year for Easter, Cindy would make sure all of us were together. We would have large cookouts, and all of us (even us oldies in and out of college) would participate in the Easter egg/candy bar hunts!!! We loved competing with one another and she loved watching us spend time together. So in 2006, we had an Easter celebration in honor of her. Here is a video Jon and I made when she returned from her extended visit to Oklahoma for chemo and radiation treatments. I cry every time I see it...a song that will always be hers:

Cindy did not like having her picture taken, so I will be asking my cousins and other family members to send me pictures of her. The ones I have I need to scan in. She was such an amazing person and will always have a special place in our hearts. We love you Cindy and we can't wait to see you again someday!

Obituary:
Mrs. Cynthia English Blue, 51, 1867 E. US Hwy. 74, Hamlet, died Sunday, November 15, 2009, at her residence.Mrs. Blue was born in Providence, RI, December 14, 1957, daughter of Harry D. English, Sr. and Barbara Storrs English.

Cynthia was a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and worked as an I.T. Technician for 25 yrs. at UCO. Visitation will be held at Harrington Funeral Home, Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 7-9 p.m.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 at 1 p.m. at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Branch President Westley Newberry officiating. Burial will follow at Marks Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Mrs. Blue was preceded in death by her father, the late Harry D. English, Sr.Survivors include her husband, Jimmy Lee Blue of the home; mother, Barbara Storrs English of Hamlet; daughters, Carmen Comeau and husband Dennis, Whitsett, NC, Heather Carlisle and husband Emerson Hamlet, Angela Bault, Atlanta, GA., and Angela Juett and husband Josh , Asheville, NC; son, Jarrod Bault, Hamlet, NC, Foster Children, Berry Leviner, Salt Lake City, Utah, Harvey Lee Leviner, Hamlet, NC, and Barbara “Joy” Leviner, Fort Hood, Texas; brothers, Harry D. English, Jr. , Salt Lake City, Utah and Warren Neal English, Columbia, SC; sister, Cheryle Kay Fabry, Saudi Arabia; Foster brother, Joey Fennell, Huntsville, Alabama; and six grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in Cynthia’s memory to:

American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,73123-1718

Harrington Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Blue.

Online condolences may be made @ www.harringtonfuneralhome.com