Obituary of Cynthea A. Heysler

Cynthea A. (Barnes) Heysler was born November 12, 1936, and passed away peacefully on March 10, 2021, surrounded by the family she loved. Cindy was born to Dorothea and Nathan Barnes on Primo Avenue, a street she lived on for nearly all of her 84 years. She was a lifelong resident of Sherrill and a graduate of VVS. She met Richard T. Heysler of Oneida in 1956 by repeatedly driving by his house and honking her Bermuda Bell horn to attract his attention. They married the following year, and built a beautiful life and nurtured a loving family together for the next 63 years. Cindy was predeceased by her brother, Robert Barnes, and sister-in-law, Bea. She is survived by her husband, Dick, and children Scott (Tina) of Wellington, Fla.; Rick (Becky) of Sherrill; Todd (Joan) of Intervale, N.H.; Tim of Orlando, Fla.; and Melissa (Michael) Wittman, also of Sherrill. She was a loving "G-ma" to Nate (Misa), Charlie (Brittany), and Brittany (Pete); "Nanny" to Megan and Ben; "Grandma" to Lauren (Mat), Lindsay (Mike), and Leah; "Grammy" to Nick and Jack; and "Great-Grandma" to Kylie. She's also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her best friend, Mary Potter. Cindy enjoyed staying in touch with those who were important to her, first by pen and paper and later on Facetime, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. She'd brighten everyone's day whenever she posted a selfie or responded to a story. Her holiday decorations brought joy to all who passed by, and her Christmas cookies, baked beans, spaghetti dinners, mudslides, and strawberry daiquiris were legendary. In her earlier years, she loved snowmobiling and operating her CB radio (her call name was "Rainbow"). The Syracuse Orange was her favorite team, penguins were her favorite animal, and "Johnny B. Goode" was her favorite song — and she and Dick danced to it every chance they could. She was larger than life with an extraordinary sense of humor, and few things brought her more joy than doing things that grandmas just don't usually do. There's nothing that Cindy loved more than being with her family, and she was the world's most generous hostess. For decades, scores of family members and their friends would gather at her house for music, fun, dinners, and swimming on occasions that ranged from holidays and graduations to ordinary Tuesdays. Cindy was proud to be from Sherrill, a city that she loved so much. It was the setting for many of her life's greatest moments and of our fondest memories with her. Her favorite day of the year was the annual Fireworks show, and she and Dick hosted a celebration at their home that brought family and friends together from all over the country. Her celebration of life will be on the day of this year's event. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the City of Sherrill's Fireworks fund in her memory so that, this year, her family and the entire community can enjoy something that she loved so much: being together. Gifts can be made online at www.sherrillrec.com by clicking "Donations."