POLEY, CYNTHIA LEA
It is with great sadness the family announce the death of Cynthia (Cindy) Lea Poley, a dear soul, who passed away at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, on February 7, 2016. Cindy was born in 1960, in Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada, to the late Benjamen LeBaron Poley and Sharon Edna (Blaikie) Holmes of Saint John, NB. Cindy lived the majority of her life in the United States, primarily in California, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. She also lived in Okinawa, Japan for four years.
She leaves behind four siblings; Kimberley Poley of Barto, Pennsylvania, USA; Benjamen Poley Junior of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Paul Akkerman of Calgary, Alberta, and Trevor Taelmer of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Cindy also leaves behind three nieces; Cynthia LeClair of Riverview, NB; Allie and Kaitlyn Akkerman of Calgary, Alberta; and a nephew, Luke LeClair of Riverview, NB, Canada. Cindy is survived by a grandniece, Maggie, and grandnephew, Ethan, of Riverview, NB. She is also survived by her uncle Brian Blaikie (who she was raised with) of Saint John, NB, and aunts Betty Jean Poley of Campbellton, NB; Marilyn (Poley) LeBlanc of Hamilton, Ontario; and Maxine (Blaikie) Richards of Fredericton, NB. She leaves behind many cousins across three generations who were dear to her.
Cindy lived an epic life. She travelled extensively and made friends wherever she found herself. She studied psychology at St. Thomas University, NB and education and teaching at the University of New Brunswick. In 2005, she obtained her master of education at the University of Phoenix in California. She taught in Japan, Canada, and the United States. As of December 2001, she worked as a senior trainer and developer at Medtronic Diabetes. In her spare time, she played the piano and sang, played pool in a league, rode her Harley Davidson, and engaged in theatre. She gave service as a volunteer to Big Brother/Big Sister and the Arthritis Association. In California, she was the membership/activity officer for a HOG (Harley Owners Group) Chapter and belonged to the APA Billiard League. Our family and her friends will miss her very much.
A memorial service will take place at the Anglican Christ Church in Campbellton, NB on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 2:00 pm. There will be a reception afterward. A second memorial service will take place in San Antonio, Texas on February 28, 2016, location and time to follow. Cindy’s friends from California are also planning a celebration of her life. The family will hold Cindy’s funeral during the month of May in Fredericton, NB. Shortly thereafter, her ashes will be buried with her grandparents, Ruth and Walter Blaikie, who raised her.
We, the Family, ask in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.