Obituary of Cindy Haywood

Cindy Ann Haywood (nee Ward) was born on December 3, 1958 in Nagpur, India and passed away at St. Mary's Hospital, Camrose, Alberta on August 28, 2008 at the age of 49 years. Cindy's only sibling, brother Philip, came along in 1960 and Phil remained her lifelong friend and faithful brother. While attending high school in Thunder Bay, Ontario Cindy was befriended by students of the Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship club, and she gave her life over to the Lord at the age of 17. Her relationship with God would define the rest of her life. She became a successful nurse, loving wife, wonderful mother, and gracious friend. In April of 1986 Cindy met her best friend while on a short trip to see her father in Edmonton. One year later Cindy and Mark were married at Messiah Lutheran Church in Camrose. Their lives were blessed with the births of daughter Sarah Ann and son Benjamin Mark. Cindy always said that the happiest days of her life were the days her children were born, and every day after that. After 14 years of happy family life Cindy was diagnosed in March 2001 with breast cancer. After five years Cindy and family had hoped that she had beaten the disease, but in March 2007 her breast cancer had metastasized. Cindy became a vocal advocate for prevention of this disease and she could often be heard encouraging other women to be "breast aware" and to get their mammograms or ultrasounds. Cindy faced her illness with such courage and grace and she was so grateful to the very end for the love and support of her family and friends. She IS our hero. Left to celebrate her life and hoping to continue her legacy of goodness and kindness is her husband of 21 years, Mark; daughter Sarah (Ben), and son Benjamin; mother Donna Ward and mother-in-law Katherine Haywood; brother Philip (Anne Levy) Ward and their children Gregory and Melissa; Auntie Nora Turnbull and her children and grandchildren; Uncle Murray Skuce (Shirley), and Aunt Myrna Skuce, and Cindy's Skuce cousins; her brothers' and sisters-in-laws and their families; Mark's extended family; and her wonderful friends, and her many colleagues at St. Mary's Hospital, Camrose. Cindy was predeceased by her father Gordon Ward, Uncle Jimmy Turnbull, her grandparents, and family friend Richard Stollery. Funeral Services for Cindy Ann Haywood were held on Saturday, September 6, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. from Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Collin Hauch officiating. In lieu of flowers of comfort and sympathy Cindy hopes that people will donate to a project close to her heart: The Cindy Ann Haywood Memorial Award in Music, Augustana Faculty, University of Alberta, 4901 - 46 Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 2R3