Cindy Payne

New Hartford- Cindy Payne, 53, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Hartford Hospital. Our warrior lost her 10 year fight to breast cancer.

            Cindy was born in Torrington on January 19, 1971, the loving daughter of Edward and Linda (Cristaldi) Pol. She was a gift from God.

            Cindy graduated from Torrington High School, Class of 1990, and attended Northwest Community College. She was employed at Touchpoints Nursing Facility in Bloomfield for 30 years, becoming Director of Recreation.

            Besides her parents, she leaves her devoted husband Mark and her cherished daughters Reagan (Nico Gaudet) and Ava Payne. Her special baby brother, Edward “Eddie”, his wife, Jaime, and her precious niece and Goddaughter, Adelyn Pol of Torrington. Her Father-in-Law, John Payne and his wife, Debbie. She also leaves her canine companion Lucy “LuLu” who licked her tears on many nights she cried in silence.

            Cindy was predeceased by her grandparents, Edward and Doris Pol, Raymond and Claire Cristaldi, her Mother-in-law, Gladys (Relva) Payne, and her Aunt and Godmother, Cherie Cristaldi Marks.

            Cindy was a beautiful and vibrant person. Her personality was alluring, when you met Cindy, you never forgot her. Her love, kindness, and compassion for her family and others was overwhelming. She was a hard worker who loved her job, co-workers, and patients at Touchpoints. She went above and beyond to entertain her patients, especially during the Holidays, Christmas being her favorite, working tirelessly to come up with themes. One Christmas, she put on a skit of Charlie Brown Christmas where she played Snoopy. She even got in touch with Scott Haney from Channel 3 and convinced him to come and narrate, and he did. Her tenacity was powerful. Another Christmas, she did a skit of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, she played Cindy Lou Who in that one. It was endless on what she would come up with every year, every month, or every day for that matter. Even this past Christmas, as sick as she was, she would work from home on her computer and planned a skit to do the Twelve Days of Christmas. This would be the first year she wouldn’t be able to perform, but her Dad drove her into work the day of the skit and she sat in the front row with her patients and watched with joy as her co-workers performed the skit she worked on. She was so happy.

            The most important thing to Cindy was her family. She was the best Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, and Niece anyone could have. Cindy was our World! When her niece, Adelyn, was born 14 months ago, she was the proudest Auntie and Godmother, Adelyn brought her such joy during these last difficult months.

            Cindy was unstoppable and remarkable. She never complained, she just loved and lived her life to the fullest.

            Cindy loved to cook, always coming up with a different recipe, going camping, and going on vacation every year with her family and friends. She visited many Caribbean Islands, went on cruises, but her favorite place was Cape Cod. She called the Cape “Her Happy Place”. She loved to walk on the beach and hunt for sea glass, watch the beautiful sunsets, and enjoy being with her family and friends.

            We want to thank everyone who came together these last few months to help Cindy be comfortable. Best friends Wendy and Brett Steeves, who gave Cindy, Mark, and the girls their unconditional love and support, whether it be running errands, picking up prescriptions, coming to the house and taking care of LuLu, making meals, or just sitting and talking. Lisa and John Maiga, high school friends who Cindy could call on if she needed a ride to a Dr’s appointment, or anything she needed. John ran along Cindy in the Litchfield Road Race a few years back to watch over and coach her to the finish line. Cindy would not let cancer win. Debbie and Jody DeLisle, Debbie was Cindy’s childhood friend and was by her side through her whole life right up to the end helping her with anything Cindy needed. Jody being a mechanic was always there for any problems with their vehicles to ease the stress of it all. Thank you to Touchpoints and her co-workers for their kindness, compassion, and understanding during these last months, we know how much Cindy appreciated it. Thank you to all her friends who called or texted every day to check in on her, her phone was always blowing up and she was always so overwhelmed.

            Cindy’s beautiful smile and bright blue eyes will never be forgotten and will be etched in our hearts and memory forever. Rest in Peace our beautiful Angel.

            Services will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 7:00p.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington. Friends may call Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home.

            In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe has been created to assist Cindy’s family offset medical expenses during her illness - https://www.gofundme.com/f/meaft9-donate-to-help-pay-for-medical-expenses

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