Obituary

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Cyndi Jayne Cressman (nee Kellner), and with joy that we get to remember and share the gift of her life. Cyndi’s love will live on in her mother, Frances; her siblings, Jeff (Debbie), Sally (Kim), and Amy (Stephen), sister-in-law Anne, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Cyndi will be forever missed by her husband, Garfield; her step-children and children, Darryl (Deanne), Charlene (Jason), Molly (Stephen), and Abbey; her grandchildren Elliot, Rory, Clayton, and Julia; and finally her sweet grand-pups, Scooby and Cheerio. Cyndi was predeceased by her father Charles, and brother Peter, along with dear friend, Paula, who she always carried in her heart. Cyndi was born Nov. 24, 1957 to Charles and Frances Kellner in Simcoe, and died Nov. 21, 2025 at Milton District Hospital, days before her 68th birthday. In June 2025, Cyndi was diagnosed with lung cancer, and worked hard to ensure that she had as much time as possible to spend with those she loved. After a treasured summer spent with family near and far as she underwent treatment, her health began to decline in the fall. To care for and love those around her was central to who Cyndi was in every arena of her life. She was the eldest of five children, and as young as 18 months, Cyndi was attempting to break into the crib of newborn brother Jeffrey to take care of him like one of her dolls. At school, Cyndi was also young to move through milestones; she skipped a grade and began high school at just 12 years old. As a young teenager, Cyndi worked in the kitchen of Norfolk General Hospital and it was there she decided to become a nurse. She later attended Mohawk College in Brantford, and the early days of Cyndi’s career were spent nursing in Toronto and then Hamilton. Towards the end of her career, she spent time working for Ontario Telehealth. Cyndi added a touch of her own special magic wherever she went, working closely with cherished colleagues that became life long friends, but it was at Milton District Hospital that she spent almost 30 years of her meaningful career. It was particularly poignant that Cyndi was to eventually pass at MDH, the place to which she dedicated so much of her time and care. It was apparent to everyone around her that Cyndi was meant to be a nurse. She was deeply compassionate and empathetic, and as one of her fellow nurses remembers, she had a kind but “mom” tone with patients and colleagues alike when they made questionable choices. To Cyndi, nursing was never just a job, but a calling that she identified with throughout her entire life. Cyndi will be remembered at MDH for many things, from her leadership and care to the sound of her many jingle-jangle bracelets and countless Tim Horton’s extra large coffees that got her through night shifts in the emergency room. Cyndi was exceedingly generous, most notably in the time she spent with those she loved. This included the many friendships that were so dear to her heart; from childhood friends in Simcoe, friendships that bloomed from long work hours at the hospital, or those made within her local community. Cyndi valued her friendships fiercely, and knew how special they each were. In her personal life, Cyndi had an inspired ability to see beauty and implement it into all of our lives. Her family was her most dearly beloved and wonderful artistic achievement. Just before starting at MDH, Cyndi met Garfield, the love of her life whom she married November 16, 1990, also becoming a loving, ever-patient and always forgiving step-mom to Garfield’s two young teenagers, Darryl and Charlene. This is a role she cherished, alongside her excitement to later have two daughters of her own, Molly and Abbey. Garfield and Cyndi enjoyed 35 years of marriage, and spent the majority of those years in the “boonies” on a “dirt road” in Puslinch Township. To Cyndi, nowhere was more treasured than home, where she felt the love of the family she shaped and shared with Garfield. Cyndi never withheld love from anyone, and her “lambs” will continue to feel her fierce love forever. There was never a time she saw her children that she did not tell them how beautiful they were or how thrilled she was to be their mother. As a mom, Cyndi was devoted, organized, present, funny, reliable, strict, generous, and so, so loving. When her daughters were small, Cyndi made sure they knew not only the value of education, but also of putting their very best effort into all they did, regardless of the results. In fact, Cyndi valued schooling so much that she regularly told her daughters if they bumped their heads and forgot their own names, she still expected them to remember their multiplication times tables. She also created a home brimming with beauty that brought everyone joy. There was never a flower that didn’t feel Cyndi’s smile upon it. Above all else, Cyndi was herself, and the biggest blessing her children received was living in the direct sunlight of her beautiful spirit. The Cressman family would like to thank Cyndi’s guardian angels along her journey living with cancer: the oncology team at Oakville-Trafalger Memorial Hospital, as well as the doctors and nurses both in the emergency department and on floor 3S at MDH. The quality of care she received will never be forgotten. Cyndi’s body will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Taylor’s Meadow green burial site at Woodlawn Cemetery in Guelph. A visitation will be held Thursday, December 4th, 2025 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm followed by a Celebration of Life at Hart Chapel, Gilbert McIntyre & Sons Funeral Home, on Friday December 5th, 2025 at 1:00pm. Since Cyndi lived her life in such bright colours, we encourage people to wear something colourful or floral to help bring joy to her memory.