Obituary for Cindy Marie Raistrick
Cindy Marie Raistrick passed from this earth on February 8, 2023, at the age of 59 in Naples, FL. It was unexpected and she leaves behind a devastated family. She is survived by her husband Arron, son Dustin, daughters Kalie and Emma, and grandchildren Leah, Jillian, Thea, and Charlie. She also leaves behind her mother Shirley, brother Michael, and sisters Trish and Jody.
Cindy was born in Washington, DC in 1963, grew up in McLean, VA, attended Langley High School, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Chemistry. She was successful in a number of careers: water treatment equipment sales, Mary Kay Cosmetics sales, many positions in foodservice, as a pastry chef, newspaper delivery person, and in later years, she cared for elderly people in their homes. She found this very rewarding as she loved older people. She treated them as if they were family, and enabled many of them to live longer, happier lives under her care.
Cindy was a loving mother, a mama bear who fiercely defended her cubs, and frequently took them on adventures, trips, and excursions, even if they were simple and local ones. She introduced her kids to the world, one visit at a time. Even a trip to the grocery store or the Walmart could seem like a safari. She did the same with her grandchildren, and as Mawmaw, she loved to feed them, care for them, play with them, give them surprises, or just lay in bed and watch a cartoon or holiday special with them. She always made holidays and birthdays special.
Cindy and Arron fell in love in their early 20’s, were married in Virginia in 1992, moved to Marco Island, FL in 2007, then to Naples in 2019. They shared a love of rock and country music, movies, tv, laughing, food, traveling, and of course, their children. Cindy and Arron also had some differences and sometimes disagreed, but their differences complimented each other and held them together through life’s many challenges and a marriage of more than thirty years.
Although she loved sledding and playing in the snow with her kids, Cindy loved the beach more and spent a lot of time in her younger years in Ocean City, MD, and Bethany Beach, DE. She loved warm weather and warm water and never looked back after moving to Florida.
Cindy loved animals and had more than fifty pets in her lifetime. Her family called her Dr. Doolittle as she had the most extraordinary connection with animals. There are lots of family stories of other people’s pets that would have nothing to do with strangers, but would come right to Cindy. Wild animals also fell under her charm, and many bunnies, squirrels, birds, and others came up to her and let her touch them. Even a baby bear! Many dogs and cats had wonderful lives because they were lucky enough to win the lottery and get Cindy as a pet mom.
Cindy’s care for older people was not a surprise, as she had always taken care of her family’s medical issues, bumps, bruises, scratches, headaches, aches, and pains. She was on 24/7 duty for her kids and her husband, and she always knew what to do. She was always ready with a bandaid and a marshmallow or other treat to make a booboo better.
Cindy was an excellent cook, and kept her family fed and happy. She wasn’t just really good at it - she truly loved cooking, grilling, and baking. She looked forward to making everyone’s favorites and always took requests. She even made things she didn’t like, like cheesecake for her husband. She was at her happiest at holidays or family gatherings, running the show and making more food than anyone could eat. She was notorious for working through a meal, sitting down as everyone was finishing up, despite their pleas to join them at the table. She just wanted everyone to get a great meal and be full. Cindy loved a good burger or steak, bread, seafood, and desserts.
Cindy loved to relax, drink her Earl Grey tea, and watch one of her many favorite tv shows. Whether it was Family Guy, Andy Griffith, Maury, Snapped and many other murder shows, or an animal documentary, she enjoyed them while petting her cats and dogs. She was smart, had a caring soul, and a great sense of humor. She will be missed by all who knew her, and will leave a huge hole in the lives of those who loved her.
Cindy was cremated and is now with her family at home. A memorial service has not been planned yet, but it will be when her family is ready.
Because of Cindy’s deep love of animals, she would prefer that anyone that wanted to buy flowers or make a donation to give money to their local animal shelter or rescue. Roses were her favorite, but she would prefer an animal was fed or housed instead of money spent on flowers.
Cindy was born in Washington, DC in 1963, grew up in McLean, VA, attended Langley High School, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in Chemistry. She was successful in a number of careers: water treatment equipment sales, Mary Kay Cosmetics sales, many positions in foodservice, as a pastry chef, newspaper delivery person, and in later years, she cared for elderly people in their homes. She found this very rewarding as she loved older people. She treated them as if they were family, and enabled many of them to live longer, happier lives under her care.
Cindy was a loving mother, a mama bear who fiercely defended her cubs, and frequently took them on adventures, trips, and excursions, even if they were simple and local ones. She introduced her kids to the world, one visit at a time. Even a trip to the grocery store or the Walmart could seem like a safari. She did the same with her grandchildren, and as Mawmaw, she loved to feed them, care for them, play with them, give them surprises, or just lay in bed and watch a cartoon or holiday special with them. She always made holidays and birthdays special.
Cindy and Arron fell in love in their early 20’s, were married in Virginia in 1992, moved to Marco Island, FL in 2007, then to Naples in 2019. They shared a love of rock and country music, movies, tv, laughing, food, traveling, and of course, their children. Cindy and Arron also had some differences and sometimes disagreed, but their differences complimented each other and held them together through life’s many challenges and a marriage of more than thirty years.
Although she loved sledding and playing in the snow with her kids, Cindy loved the beach more and spent a lot of time in her younger years in Ocean City, MD, and Bethany Beach, DE. She loved warm weather and warm water and never looked back after moving to Florida.
Cindy loved animals and had more than fifty pets in her lifetime. Her family called her Dr. Doolittle as she had the most extraordinary connection with animals. There are lots of family stories of other people’s pets that would have nothing to do with strangers, but would come right to Cindy. Wild animals also fell under her charm, and many bunnies, squirrels, birds, and others came up to her and let her touch them. Even a baby bear! Many dogs and cats had wonderful lives because they were lucky enough to win the lottery and get Cindy as a pet mom.
Cindy’s care for older people was not a surprise, as she had always taken care of her family’s medical issues, bumps, bruises, scratches, headaches, aches, and pains. She was on 24/7 duty for her kids and her husband, and she always knew what to do. She was always ready with a bandaid and a marshmallow or other treat to make a booboo better.
Cindy was an excellent cook, and kept her family fed and happy. She wasn’t just really good at it - she truly loved cooking, grilling, and baking. She looked forward to making everyone’s favorites and always took requests. She even made things she didn’t like, like cheesecake for her husband. She was at her happiest at holidays or family gatherings, running the show and making more food than anyone could eat. She was notorious for working through a meal, sitting down as everyone was finishing up, despite their pleas to join them at the table. She just wanted everyone to get a great meal and be full. Cindy loved a good burger or steak, bread, seafood, and desserts.
Cindy loved to relax, drink her Earl Grey tea, and watch one of her many favorite tv shows. Whether it was Family Guy, Andy Griffith, Maury, Snapped and many other murder shows, or an animal documentary, she enjoyed them while petting her cats and dogs. She was smart, had a caring soul, and a great sense of humor. She will be missed by all who knew her, and will leave a huge hole in the lives of those who loved her.
Cindy was cremated and is now with her family at home. A memorial service has not been planned yet, but it will be when her family is ready.
Because of Cindy’s deep love of animals, she would prefer that anyone that wanted to buy flowers or make a donation to give money to their local animal shelter or rescue. Roses were her favorite, but she would prefer an animal was fed or housed instead of money spent on flowers.