Cinda Jeane (Lacy) Gill

WATERTOWN- Cinda Jeane Gill died Thursday February 14th, 2019 at home, surrounded by her entire family.  She was blessed with and grateful for her amazing support system of friends and family throughout her lengthy battle with cancer. Arrangements have been entrusted to Cleveland Funeral Home Inc., Watertown.

Cindy, as she was better known, was born on May 8, 1949, in Rochester, NY to Kenneth C. and Areta Tallman Lacy.  She attended local schools and went on to receive her degree in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College.  Upon completion of college she married her husband of 48 years, Fred Gill of Lebanon, PA.  The first few years of their marriage was spent in New York City before they accepted jobs and moved to Watertown, NY in 1974.

Cindy has had a lifelong connection with the church.  She has been a member of a church choir since the age of eight. She spent 30 yrs as the Financial Secretary at Asbury UMC and volunteered for dinners, fund raisers, as well as serving on Finance and other committees.  She was a decades-long member of the Chancel Choir and the Asbury Ringers.

Cindy had an amazing professional work ethic that spanned a 45 year career in Physical Therapy, which began at Fordham Hospital in the Bronx.  After moving to Watertown, she focused her professional passions toward geriatric Physical Therapy.  She started working locally at Mercy/Madonna Home, later she was the Director of Physical Therapy at Samaritan Keep Home, and she retired as Head of Rehab from The Country Manor in Carthage.  At the end of her career, Cindy also spent several years providing physical therapy services for Public Health for Jefferson County.  All the while she enriched and prolonged the lives of countless other people. 

Cindy built a strong social network (yes, even before Facebook).  She enjoyed an especially close knit relationship with her craft group of 40 + years, as well as with a church women's group known as the 'flamingos'.  Her friends offered her countless hours of support, laughter and camaraderie before and throughout her illness, which Cindy cherished beyond value.

A dedicated care giver professionally, Cindy's primary driving force in her life was her family.  She was a devoted and loving wife and mother.  Cindy is survived by her husband Fred, her three children whom she loved dearly and of whom she was extremely proud.  Her eldest son Lance and his partner Kayleigh of Oceanside California, her son Kaine and his wife Jennifer of Portland Oregon, and her daughter Nikki and her husband Denny of Watertown, NY.  She has five of the most well loved grandchildren: Michael and Skylar Gill in Oceanside California, and Anthony, Abigail, and Alexander Patrick in Watertown New York.  Her favorite time was time spent with the grandkids. Cindy is also survived by her brother K. Eric Lacy and his wife Diana of Knoxville, TN as well as by her nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

Cindy was an exemplar.  During her battle, she continued to reach out and lift up all of those around her.  She volunteered and worked with a church group that made quilts, where she stitched in her love and prayers of comfort for those in need of comfort.  Regardless of the role Cindy played in people's lives, she had a special way of letting you know she cared.  A walk with an ailing friend, a warm smile, a subtle quick jab, a daiquiri on the deck, a hand-written note, a plate of sweet rolls; these were just some of the ways she showed unwavering encouragement to those in need and those she knew and loved.  Thank you to Cindy for being our guiding light, showing us the infinite ways in which you cared, and for giving us all a path to love you more. 

Calling hours will be Sunday February 17th from 2-5pm at Cleveland Funeral Home, Watertown, NY. and a memorial service will be held Monday February 18th at 11am at Asbury United Methodist Church in Watertown, NY.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to Asbury UMC or Hospice of Jefferson County. Online condolences may be made at www.ClevelandFHInc.com

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