Cynthia "Cyndy" (Stafford) Smith Obituary (1932

Cynthia Cyndy Erlene Anderson Beeckel (Stafford Smith), 82, of Augusta, Maine, passed away on Saturday September 19, 2015 of natural causes. She was supported by all of her children and family members. Cyndy was born on October 20, 1932 in Flushing, Queens, New York, to Charles Elmer and Tess (Tschantr) Anderson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin Barbara Joan Ruhren, and older sister Anne Louise Jones. Cyndy married John Niles Beeckel on July 22, 1952 in Park Ridge, New Jersey, not far from Woodcliff Lake where they had known each other as neighbors and after Johnny returned from his service in the Navy. A short while later they went to the Bangor, Maine area where Johnny attended the University of Maine in Orono and obtained his Bachelors and Masters degrees. While there Cyndy had their first child. After Johnny graduated, the family moved to the Augusta area, where he started teaching at Cony High School; he remained there until his death in 1967 at the age of 39. The other six children were all born in Augusta, and Cyndy has lived there since. She was re-married in 1970 to Ralph Stafford of Gardiner and in her later years to Robert Smith of Augusta, both of whom predeceased her. Despite extraordinarily challenging circumstances surrounding widowhood at 34 years old, and with seven young children, our Mom valiantly and deliberately worked to hold her family together and raise and provide for them with limited resources. To her, and all those special family friends who quietly assisted, we are and will be eternally grateful. Moms nurturing force was extended as well to her love of birds, pets, and gardening. She silently served and friendshipped, with her love and caring, so many individuals within her church and community, which is written only in the book of lives and hearts. She is survived by her seven children Barbara Ann (Douglas) Tyndall of Utah, Peter Neil (Caron) of Turner, John David (Tamara) of Augusta, Thomas Wayne (Lisa) of Augusta, Linda June (James Nick) Nichols of Florida, Kurt Norman (Brenda) of Augusta, and Kathy Eileen Beeckel (Alan) Kuchar of Utah, 23 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Farmingdale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, in honor of those who have served to maintain our freedoms, or to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society. Any questions can be directed to the Staples Funeral Home in Gardiner. Memorial Service Oak Grove Cemetery 30 Danforth Street Gardiner Maine 4345