Cynthia (Cindy) Lynn Charbonneau

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Cynthia (Cindy) Lynn Charbonneau nee Church on June 16, 2026.

Cindy was born on August 4, 1958, in Haileybury, Ontario to Georgie and Buddy Church. The third of six children, she grew up surrounded by the noise, adventure, and occasional chaos that comes with a big family. Her childhood was shaped by the close-knit community of the Tri-Town area, including time at the Cobalt Arena for figure skating, the hours spent at Bass Lake in the summer, and the inevitable connections made with neighbors who became family to her. The stories and bonds formed during those early years, including the group of eight childhood friends who were always connected regardless of distance or season of life, remained a source of pride and joy. No matter where she lived, she always considered the Tri-Town area home and was always excited to return for big celebrations or reunions. She found great joy seeing her kids visit and develop their own connections with her hometown.

As a young adult, she traveled west to meet up with her sister across the country and landed in Vancouver after a very long train journey. She would then meet a tall lanky man named Bill at BCIT, who she would get married to very quickly in 1979 and stay married to for the next 47 years. She loved him very much and he took such great care of her.

They moved to Edmonton in 1980, heading to Calgary next, then back to the Tri Town area to run the Bayport Cafe and finally back to Calgary.

If there is one thing Cindy will be remembered for it is how much she was made to be a mom. Mom to four strikingly awesome people, she put her whole self into raising her children. Memories include birthdays and Christmases she made special, Lego in the living room, the time she was a chef for a grade 5 bike ride, her famous macaroni casserole and shepherd’s pie, hot dog lunches, bike rides to Sikome Lake (the rides back were always the longest part she said), how she knew all their friends, the many trips to the parks, time spent at the Pigeon Lake trailer and all the adventures in between. She was always there to talk and listen, especially as her kids grew into adults.

Her job as a waitress was just to have a social life that paid with tips, where she met so many wonderful people no matter what restaurant she was at, who came in and out of her life, whether they were coworkers or regulars. People were drawn in by her ability to chat and listen, and she would share these stories with us.

More recently, her joy has been found in her grandchildren, whether in person or over FaceTime, and always had a good story about them. She loved seeing her children raise families and the little humans they created. Competitive UNO games along with the trash talk (Oh SNAP!), baking cookies, being the house with slime and getting FaceTime tours of bedrooms and imaginations were some of her favourite ways to spend time with them. She was excited that a new grandchild would be joining the family in early 2027.

In the last year, a good day included a good book, a latte, a card game and maybe a drive somewhere.

She believed trees talked. Enjoyed reading about anything and had recently discovered Reddit. Loved a good campfire. Believed that everyone had a little bit of kindness in them. Loved crème brûlée and sticky toffee pudding. And she had a really great laugh.

Cindy leaves behind her husband Bill, children Katelynne (Adam), Sara (Ryan), Matthew (Jessica), Jacob (Kisa) and her beloved grandchildren Eli, Lylah, West, Cassia and Rio. Her siblings, Danny (Ginell), Nicole (Ron), and Michelle (Brian), so many nieces and nephews who loved their Aunt Cindy, cousins, and great life-long friends. She will be joining her parents and sisters, Marcia and Jackey, for coffee and gossip in heaven.

The family would like to extend their thanks to all the medical professionals who supported her during the last year. From the team at the Arthur JE Childs Cancer Center, the respirology team out of Rockyview Hospital, the South Health Campus Unit 66, and the many other people who found ways to get her care as quickly as possible.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Calgary Public Library Foundation in her name.

There is no celebration of life planned. A tree will be planted in her memory, so we can still chat with her.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Cynthia (Cindy) Lynn Charbonneau, please visit our Tree Store.