Cynthia Lynn (Clark) McKenzie

Cynthia Lynn (Clark) McKenzie

Indianapolis – Cynthia Lynn (Clark) McKenzie passed away on January 3, 2019 at the age of 60 in her home, surrounded by family.

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!  Cindy McKenzie has conquered the grave, passed from this Earth to her Heavenly home after her long, hard battle with cancer.

God blessed this world with an Angel named Cindy McKenzie on August 25, 1958.  In His incredible design, she was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana to Marilyn (Tiffany) Kusiak and her husband John (Jack).  The oldest of four children born to Marilyn and Jack, “Good Samaritan Hospital” would foreshadow how Cindy McKenzie would go on to live her life.  Later at age 10, she and her three siblings were adopted by their step father, Norman Henry Clark.  This was a very special time for Cindy, Cathy, Jim, and Stan.

Cindy smiles down from Heaven upon all those she is survived by: her mother, Marilyn (Tiffany) Clark; two sons Daniel (and wife Heather) McKenzie, David (and wife Amy) McKenzie; six grandchildren, Jackson, Olivia, Johnny, Lucy, Maddie, and Ben; siblings, Cathy (and husband Steve) Thoman, Jim (and wife Laura) Clark, Stan (and wife Lisa) Clark, stepbrother Ron (and wife Donna) Clark, and stepsister Penny (and husband Bill) Dicken; her former husband of 20 years and father of their two sons, John McKenzie; her fiancé George Stout and his family Megan, Mandy, Molly, George Jr., Gabe, and their spouses and children; many nieces and nephews, a host of cousins, her special Aunt Margie, and all of her Forever Friends!

Though the Path to Heaven is narrow, Cindy sprints through the gates without a wall in sight and into the loving arms of those who preceded her in death: her adopted father (Pop) Norman Clark, biological father John E. Kusiak, Grandad and Grandma Tiffany, Uncle Walt Tiffany, and Aunt Phyllis Decker.

Cindy was a graduate of Calvin Kendall School 62 and Howe High School (class of 1976).  Cindy stated she had a “calling” to be a Teacher in the 3rd grade and proceeded to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from IUPUI in 1980.

A Teacher to all of God’s Children in her Walk, Cindy began following her calling to teach the Children of the World at Lord of Life Christian School in Indianapolis.  She would go on to touch the lives of countless students, teachers, faculty, and parents in her 20 years of Teaching at Heather Hills Elementary School and Brookview Elementary School in Warren Township.

One of Cindy’s principles she lived by in life was: “By blood, or By God, we are ALL family.”  As such, Cindy never met a stranger, only Friends.  Cindy had so many friends that she formed a Forever Friends group and kept them all connected through her monthly or quarterly newsletters – along with quarterly get togethers.

Cindy loved life and all people – even to the end when she invited the hospice Chaplin to be part of her Forever Friends group.  Her love for all people came through in the way she lived her life – living by the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments.  Her smile was the sweetest, and her embrace the dearest.  While she will be missed by many forever here on Earth, it is because of Cindy that many will rejoice knowing that Eternal Life with Cindy will one day be shared.  Cindy lived her life so selflessly that even in her final breaths, Cindy’s final words to her mother were “Tell everyone I love them and thank you for all you’ve done to make my life better.”

Cindy’s life cannot be summarized.  Novels could be written about Cindy and it still wouldn’t be enough.  One of the more difficult trials for those of us remaining is that we can never put into words how special Cindy was and continues to be through those she touched.  We who knew her on Earth are the lucky ones.  The world is not as bright as it used to be, but for those of us who are Saved by Christ, we will see her again in Heaven.

Cindy was a literal Angel on Earth, her calling to be a Teacher wasn’t just for kids, but for everyone.  She lived everyday on Earth as if it were a lesson to all those around her on how to live a life of Perpetual Grace, Remarkable Kindness, and Unconditional Love.

Whenever any person would ask her about her life, the only response she would give would be to say she is “So Blessed.”  This would become so synonymous with Cindy McKenzie that any time a collection of Family or Friends would be near her, she would place one hand to the sky and one hand toward those around her and say out loud “We are all So Blessed.”  As she enters Heaven now, it is because of all those she has touched that we can now raise a hand to the sky and one toward the World and say we have been “So Blessed” to have had her be a Teacher and Loved One to all of us.

Calling will be held at Old Bethel United Methodist Church, 7995 E 21st St, Indianapolis, IN 46219 on Friday, January 11 from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM with Service beginning at 7:00 PM EST.  Burial will be at Derr Cemetery, Road 1500 N (County Road 17) and Road 1420 E, Pinkstaff, Illinois, 62427 on Saturday, January 12 at 1:30 PM EST.

In Cindy’s Honor, please consider donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrf.org) or Cure for IBD (Funding Crohn’s & Colitis Research) (https://cureforibd.donordrive.com). 

Cindy’s most valued currency in life was love to others, and she gave that love freely and without condition.  As such, if donations are not feasible this close to the Holiday Season, then in lieu of Flowers or donations, try calling an old friend to say hello or hugging a stranger.  For that is the lesson Cindy taught daily in her life.  A lesson to love all and to show that love as frequently as possible.  So Blessed!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cynthia Lynn (Clark) McKenzie, please visit our floral store.