Cynthia “Cindy” L. Reese of Tuxedo passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City after a short but valiant battle with interstitial lung disease with her close friends Sandy McGrady and JoAnn Martin by her side. She was 67 years old.
Born Feb. 10, 1954, in Utica, she was the third of five children of the Philip and Anna Jaquays Reese. Cindy was a proud graduate from Waterville Central School in 1972.
Following graduation Cindy worked at Nichol’s in the photography department until she obtained a position at Lockheed Martin and General Electric soldering circuit boards. During this time period she also became a freelance photographer for the Waterville Times newspaper in Waterville.
When the facility closed Cindy took the advantage to return to school. She attended Mohawk Community College earning an Associate’s Degree I Medical Coding.
Upon graduating, Cindy worked at several area hospitals, the last one being Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown as a medical coder and a med/surg unit clerk until moving to North Carolina to further her career.
After four years she returned to New York to assist her friend Sandy in the care of Sandy’s mother. Since this move Cindy has had employment with Monroe Taxi as a driver and at the Tuxedo Union Free School district as a greeter, bus monitor and most recently, proudly as a school bus driver.
In all her endeavors, no matter what new challenges Cindy faced she greeted each one with acceptance, a smile which said “Yes I Can!” and a willingness to give it her all.
She enjoyed participating in many things from bowling and drawing, to photography, to horseback riding, to doing a little karate and bicycle riding, to baking or Bar-B-Qing, to just quietly doing Sudoku or other mind challenging games. However, her greatest love outside of her family was her love of animals particularly dogs, especially Noah her miniature Schnauzer whom she lost last year.
Cindy was married to and divorced from the late Larry Windover of Clarks Mills. From this marriage Cindy had one child whom she loved dearly, Sean Windover of Clarks Mills.
She is also survived by her two younger sisters Karen Evans of Rome, N.Y., and Julie Eastman (husband Keith) of Oneida, N.Y., along with many nieces, nephews and two great nieces.
Cindy was predeceased by her parents and also by her two older siblings, her brother Corporal William “Billy” Reese who was killed in action in Vietnam and Patricia “Patty” Goodwin.
Cindy’s faith carried her throughout her life especially during her challenging illness. She was a member of the United Methodist Church before becoming a member of St Mary’s in the Park Episcopal Church in Tuxedo Park.
Visitation will be on Saturday, March 20, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Smith, Seaman, and Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe.
A Funeral Service will begin at 3 p.m.
Interment services will be held at later date at the discretion of the family at Crown Hill Memorial Park in Clinton.
Donations may be made in Cindy’s memory to the American Lung Association or to the American Diabetes Association.