Cindy L. Roddy-Downing

Cindy Lynn (Roddy) Downing, 66, passed away peacefully at her home in Richfield Springs, New York on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, with her husband Tim at her side.

She was born on January 20, 1958 to Dorothy "Dot" (Barnett) and William Lynn "Lynn" Roddy in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Lynn's job as a newspaper man took the family to Grants, New Mexico, then back to Carlsbad, and finally, when Cindy was in the fourth grade, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. She graduated from Eldorado High School in 1976, then went on to attend the University of New Mexico, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in 1980 and earned her national Medical Technology License.

In her younger years, Cindy loved to dance. She was proficient in country-western, ballroom dance, square dancing, and clogging.  It was in a country-western dance class where she met her future husband of 40 years, Tim Downing. They were married in Albuquerque on May 15, 1984. In the years that followed, Tim's Navy career took them back and forth between the east and west coasts. Cindy kept the home fires burning while working as a hospital laboratory technologist for many years before trading the high-stress work environment for one where she could work with some of her favorite people – dogs (grooming them, that is). When Tim transitioned from military service to private-sector employment, they made a dream come true by settling on their farm (T&C Acres) in Richfield Springs. Cindy changed professions again and worked in Utica as an endodontic dental assistant. When not occupied with work, the commute to and from Utica, housekeeping, or lawn mowing, she pursued her favorite hobbies – photography, watching NFL football (Cindy was a Green Bay Packers owner), needlework, collecting jewelry, and loving cats.

Cindy was incredibly generous, warm-hearted, loyal, and intelligent, with a keen sense of humor and unending love for animals. Over the years she was "mom" to many cats, a dog, a rat, and at least one snake, among other critters. Although she never realized her dream of having one of her own, she loved horses and was an accomplished horsewoman.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Tim Downing; cousins Sheryl Philips and Don Manuel; stepdaughter Roxann Downing; and six cats. She will be greatly missed by them, numerous other family members, and her dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lynn and Dot Roddy; her dog Buck; and beloved cats Sherman, PC, Simba, Lady, Tramp, Otis, Odet, Callie, Milo, Tuck, and Jane.

A celebration of life gathering will be scheduled for some time in July 2025 at T&C Acres farm in Richfield Springs, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter.