Cynthia J. Robbins

She was born on October 5, 1937, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and raised in Highland, N.Y., graduating from Highland High School in 1955.

Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the former College of St. Elizabeth (now known as St. Elizabeth University) in Convent Station, N.J. in 1959.

In 1962, she married James Cobb Robbins in Highland. The couple moved to Rockland County in 1965, raising their family on Woodland Place in Airmont, surrounded by neighbors who became lifelong friends.

Pursuing her passion in education, Cynthia taught in Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, and for more than two decades, kindergarten and first grade at the former Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Mahwah, N.J.

Upon her retirement from teaching, she worked as a dedicated aide with Home Aides of Rockland, Inc., sharing her gifts of love and compassion with home-bound seniors. She was also committed to serving her community through volunteer work with Meals on Wheels; the Knights of Columbus Joyce Kilmer Council No. 1177; the Annual Christmas Party for Letchworth Village Group; Our Lady’s Guild of Sacred Heart Church in Suffern, where she was a faithful parishioner; and St. Zita’s Villa senior living community, among other organizations.

Cynthia’s heartfelt baking and distribution of her legendary Irish soda bread and sweet candy apples at Halloween brought smiles to the faces of neighbors and her childrens’ teachers for decades, even long after families had left the neighborhood and her kids graduated. She loved knitting, listening to Broadway show tunes, playing cards and boardgames, telling jokes and stories, rooting for the Mets, and vacationing on Cape Cod. Above all, she was most known for always putting the needs of others above her own and for her constant devotion to her family and friends.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband of 57 years; her parents, Harold and Alice (Gethings) Berean; a sister, Susan Marchese; and a brother, Harold Berean.

She is survived by her loving children, James H. Robbins and his wife Maureen, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Daniel and his wife, Sueann, of Coatesville, Pa., Mary Therese Phelan and her husband, John, of Baltimore, Md., and Kevin, of Charlotte, N.C.; three grandchildren, Dani, Cameron and James; her sisters, Jacqueline Westa of Ballston Spa, N.Y., Patty Varricchio, of Rhinebeck, N.Y., and Patricia Fox, of Lagrangeville, N.Y., and a brother, Thomas Berean, of Newport News, Calif; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, from 2 to 4 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m., at the Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home, 177 Route 59, Suffern. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Sacred Heart Church, 129 Lafayette Ave., Suffern. Burial services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Meals on Wheels of Rockland, 121 West Nyack Road, Nanuet, NY, 10954.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wanamakercarlough.com for the Robbins family.