Aumsville
- Cindi was born in 1961 in the small town of Tacoma,
Washington. She passed away with family and friends by her
side, just after the sunrise on March 14, 2021 in Salem, OR.
She fought a year-long battle with cancer and was taken too
soon. She was a quiet girl who spent a lot of her time
outdoors whether that be in nature or in the garden. From a
very young age Cindi loved the little things in life. This was
one lesson she tried to teach everyone she met. Cindi
lived in a home with her parents, three sisters, and two
brothers. Growing up, Cindi experienced many places and new
things throughout living in the Midwest. As a child she
moved around a lot due to her father’s job. He worked for
the largest aerospace company, Boeing, where he played an
important part in setting up different testing sites. Every
two years or so they moved to a new town, this opened the
opportunity for Cindi to meet new people. She was a people
person and loved hanging out with each new friend she made,
whether it be a person or an animal.
As a child, she took part
in many activities such as gymnastics and playing the guitar.
Cindi spent a lot of time creating comic books, writing folk
music and teaching her best friend, Brenda Sue, how to play
the guitar. At the age of 17, her family landed in
Kahlotus, WA. where the family had a pig farm. Due to Cindis
love for animals, she did not like the practices of the farm
and she decided to move to Iowa. In 1978, Brenda Sue
introduced her to her future husband James. Now this wasn't
any normal introduction, it was over the phone! Although they
had never met in person, they spent the next year getting to
know one another through conversation.
In 1979, she
ventured to Texas where she finally met James in person. They
fell madly in love and began their life together. In January
of 1982, James and Cindi welcomed their daughter, Aster. Their
relationship flourished from here leading up to their marriage
in September of the same year. This was the beginning of many
traveling adventures! In 1987 they moved to Mill City, OR.
This is where they began to set down roots. Cindi worked as a
stone maker and concrete finisher for her family business. In
December of 1990, they welcomed their son, Justin.
In
1996, After 16 years of marriage, James and Cindi decided to
part ways which led to her moving to Aumsville, OR. She
lived her life caring for others which led to her role as a
caregiver. Cindi always loved helping others, she was soft
spoken and considerate which made her perfect for this field.
In 1999, Cindi met Rick when she began caregiving for Rick's
son, Scott. Cindi became Rick's lifelong partner and she
thought of Scott as her own child. What started off as a part
time position turned into so much more. Over the next 20 years
Rick and Scott became a part of her family. In 2004,
Cindi became a grandmother which was her greatest success and
most important role in her life. She chose to be with her
grandkids playing and teaching them the little things in life
every chance she had. Cindi had a total of 10 grandchildren.
She was overjoyed with excitement waiting on the arrival of
her first great granddaughter.
Cindi was the type of person
with each new person she met, her family grew by one or a
dozen. She welcomed every person she met with open arms. Throughout
her life, Cindi was a caregiver and an active horticulturist.
She enjoyed working in the garden and showing people new
things. She spent her summers by the river hunting for rocks,
playing with her grandbabies and spending time with family.
She will be remembered for her soft voice, her consideration
for others but most of all, she will be remembered for the way
she enjoyed the little things in life. That might be sharing a
cup of coffee over a sunrise or even a hug.
She is
preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Loraine Zink. She
is survived by her daughter Aster Fenlon and Sean Szmyd, her
son Justin Jameson and Jessica Brown. Grandchildren: Maleah,
Samantha, Kalista, Bishop, Nelliona, Kyran, Gunner, Topanga,
Marley and Paisley. Her life partner Richard Harris and son
Scott Harris. Siblings: Terri Standridge, Anita Zink, Jeff
Zink, Karen Zink-Conner and Matt Zink.
The
celebration of life will be held at a later date for friends
and family.
