Beautiful celebration of life. It was very nice to see how much everyone loved Auntie Cynthia. She was always very patient & dealt with the 
idiosyncrasies of our side of the family with a smile. Wish we could've had more time with her!

It was in early 90s, we went to visit Cynthia and Jerry at their Itasca home.  On Friday afternoon, Cynthia came home from work at 5:00pm.  She announced there were three guests coming for a Chinese dinner.  That meant she would have to cook a dinner for ten (with my mother, Lo-Soun, Eric and me) in a little over an hour and the meat was not even defrosted.  I would be beside myself if I were her, yet being typical Cynthia, she said "Don't worry, we can cook this and that, and we also have a fish dish"  "Where is the fish?"  " Oh, Jerry is fishing at the lake now".  Half an hour had passed, Jerry was still fishing.  I became worried again.  Yet Cynthia said "It's alright, then we don't have the fish".  Sure enough though,  my brother came home with a big fish.  At 6:30pm, ten dishes were on the table, including the deliciously baked fish.  I was amazed.

Fish or no fish, it doesn't really matter.  It was just one small example of how she handled things in life.  Large or small, she handled with confidence and ease.  The trademark of her positive attitude was stamped everywhere, including her brave fight against cancer.  It was an important factor to explain when my brother said that the last four and half years was actually the best time of their lives together.

My mother said in the last year of her life that Cynthia was ''.  The true meaning of it would be lost in translation. The best attempt I could try is  means great kindness, and  means great rectitude, or great righteousness.  This would be a great commendation from anybody, especially from a mother-in-law.

I knew Cynthia and Jerry when I was in Athens, Ohio. At that time, I was an undergraduate student, Jerry was a professor and Cynthia stayed at home raising their three lovely children.  She and Jerry were very active in the Chinese community at Ohio University.  
After Michael and I got married, I began to know the Wang family better.  I soon realized that Cynthia was not your ordinary housewife; she was the motivation force behind the family.  I was amazed that Cynthia could manage the household and also had a challenging career in commercial real estate.  Whenever we visit Jerry and Cynthia, I noticed that there was never lack of food and laughter in their house.  Cynthia treated her family, relatives, friends and business associates with love and respect.  She will be missed by many.  May God be with her as she takes her final journey to heaven.

Cynthia was a warm and generous friend. She had a beautiful smile and made those around her feel happy.  We have fond memories of our times with her and Jerry and she will be sadly missed.

Auntie Cynthia gave me my first (and only) hot wheels tracks.  She forgave me for overfeeding and killing all the fish in the fish tank.  She made me jealous when she described the sea turtle babies on Bonita Beach.  And she taught me all about chocolate.  Dark.  Chocolate.  Joysticks.

We are saddened, but only have the fondest of memories.

Cynthia:  Jim and I were looking at your photo gallery and saw many beautiful pictures of you and your family, and friends.  

We especially love your 50-year Golden Anniversary picture.  You and Jerry looked so happy together, like newly weds (only a little bit older).  Then there were pictures of your wonderful children, Mae, Steve and Paul, and your beautiful grandchildren.

We also marveled at all the magnificent places that you and Jerry had visited.  They were simply breathtaking.  We are happy you and Jerry had so much fun together.  We also appreciate and treasure all the good times we had together as a family in various places.  Again, it was magical.  You made it happen.  We miss you and we love you.

I had fond memories of Aunt Cynthia (a/k/a E-ma)whether it was in Arlington Heights, Toronto, Scottsdale or Las Vegas when I was young.  One of my fondest memories was sitting next to her at a Video Poker machine at Caesars Palace listening to her tricks and tips on how she achieved getting royal flushes all the time.  It is unfortunate, she had to leave us so early but she definitely left a positive mark on many lives here.  Rest in Peace E-ma and I am also sorry that you had to leave us soon.

I always knew how Aunt Cynthia had a special bond with my father, Michael, and to read what he wrote in this guestbook just shows even more what an amazing person and sister Aunt Cynthia was to him (and to all her brothers and sisters).  Every time I saw Aunt Cynthia she had funny stories and jokes to tell, delicious chocolates to give us and a huge smile on her face.  To me, I always view her as the glue to my dad's side of the family.  Aunt Cynthia, I am glad you're not in pain anymore.  Please know that all your loved ones will always and forever hold you and special memories spent with you close to their hearts.

I could not find the words to express my sorrow when I lost my   Big Sister, Cynthia. She was much more than a sister to me.  She was everything.  She was always there for her brothers and sisters, ready to listen to whatever they wanted to say.  Her warmth and compassion always made me feel good and safe.  Her wisdom and strength always made the problems seem a lot smaller or simply disappeared.  It was magical.  Only she could make this happen.

Cynthia, Jim said you were the big sister that everybody dreams of having.  Well, we are so very lucky.  We did not have to dream.  We had you from DAY ONE.  Thank you very much for bringing us Joy and Happiness.  You will always be our respected Big Sister, our beloved Da Ga Jie.

It is difficult to say good bye to someone you love and respect all your life.  I feel that I have a special bond with my sister, Cynthia.  Most siblings go their separate ways after high school, but I spent my four college-years in the same town with Cynthia.  We both went to Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa.  She was there first, but she stayed after I graduated because she had married a very nice young man called Jerry.  Cynthia and Jerry took very good care of me while we were in Ames. They introduced me to many of her Taiwanese friends  I swear all of them tried to teach me Mandarin.  After their daughter, Mae, was born, I was Mae's first (and worst) baby sister. 
After leaving Ames, we maintained in close contact. To me, Cynthia was not just an older sister, she was a good friend, a mentor, sometimes a surrogate mother, and a go-to-persons with problems and questions. I felt that she had looked after and protected me all my life.  In a simple term, she was my guardian angel.  When I saw her in the hospital last Saturday, she had left us but I saw love and peace on her face.  I suddenly realized that my guardian angel has earned her wings.  She is in heaven watching and protecting all of us.
Cynthia, we miss you and we love you.

Don't cry for Cindy            
Do not stand at her grave and weep. 
She is not there; she does not sleep.
She is a thousand winds that blow,   
She is the diamond glints on snow, 
She is the sun on ripened grain, 
She is the gentle autumn rain. 
When you awaken in the morning's hush, 
She is the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in the circling flight.
She is the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at her grave and cry.
She is not there; she did not die.

By Mary Elizabeth Frye

Our family all thought so highly of Aunt Cynthia -- she was magnanimous, had a great sense of humor (can hear her laugh looking at the pictures), was someone who just "gets stuff done", but most of all, we'll remember her for her overwhelmingly positive spirit.

Don't cry for Cindy                                  Cindy
Do not stand at her grave and weep. 
She is not there; she does not sleep.
She is a thousand winds that blow,    
She is the diamond glints on snow, 
She is the sun on ripened grain, 
She is the gentle autumn rain. 
When you awaken in the morning's hush, 
She is the swift uplifting rush,        
Of quiet birds in the circling flight.        
She is the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at her grave and cry.
She is not there; she did not die.         

By Mary Elizabeth Frye

I have such good memories of Auntie Cynthia. My childhood memories include visiting you all in Illinois, and how Auntie Cynthia was always ready to laugh and have fun with everyone. She was such a positive spirit, ready with a big smile for all of us, and I was always personally inspired by her strength, confidence, and warmth. I'm so sorry that she had to leave.

Cynthia was the best sibling one could ever imagine. She was always kind and considerate. She had been in my life since I was born and my memories of her have all been good. She is the loving mother of three wonderful children and loving wife and partner to Jerry - her husband of 53 years. She was smart and fun to be with. Words cannot express the sense of loss and pain I feel. Losing her is like having a limb torn from my body. I will miss her till the day I die. Rest in peace, Cynthia - I love you and I miss you so very much and it was truly an honor to have you as my sister.

OBITUARY

Cynthia ShuetFai Wang

February 26, 1942 – May 7, 2016

Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services