Cynthia L. "Cindy" Wawrin

Cynthia "Cindy" Louise Wawrin passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, September 17th, 2015 at the age of 55.

She was born on December 23, 1959 in Ravenna to Walter and Gilberta (Benedetti) Engelhart. Growing up, she lived with her family in Rootstown and then attended Kent State University for her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. She later completed her Master's in Education. She met and fell in love with her husband, Chuck, on a blind date during her undergraduate career and they married on July 9, 1983. The couple later had two children and at that time, Cindy's talent of being an extraordinary mother was uncovered.

Cindy was a teacher in the Kent City Schools for 32 years, with many years spent teaching kindergarten at Walls Elementary and later, first grade at Franklin Elementary. Teaching was one of Cindy's passions and she loved following her former students' successes and triumphs. She is remembered fondly by her students for her beautiful guitar playing, Thanksgiving teepee and feasts, holiday elf and leprechaun visits, and Monarch butterfly unit at the beginning of every school year. Cindy was dedicated to teaching, often arriving early and leaving late to prepare her classroom on school days. She remembered each and every one of her students and was miraculously capable of recognizing them twenty-some years after they were her young students. Because of Cindy's obvious adoration for teaching, she influenced many of her students to pursue a career in education.

Cindy was a beautiful person inside and out, lighting up every room she entered. She adored life and was full of energy, always placing the needs of others before her own. She was a compassionate, dedicated, nurturing, and faithful friend, sister, daughter, wife, and mother. Her happiest moments were spent in the company of family and friends. There was nothing she enjoyed more than caring for others and bringing happiness to those she loved. She was a phenomenal hostess and cook, making all guests feel welcome and comfortable in her home. Some of her other favorite pastimes included running around her neighborhood, reading, playing with her dogs Dakota and Maddie, and watching her two favorite sports teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ohio State Buckeyes Football Team. Every summer, she loved to vacation in Topsail Island, NC with her family and could often be found on the beach with a book in hand.

Words cannot express the extent to which Cindy's beautiful soul will be missed by her family, friends, and the Kent community. She will forever be remembered as a loving daughter, wife, and mother who helped to shape so many young lives.

She is survived by her husband, Charles Wawrin; son, Gabe Wawrin of Kent; daughter, Nikki (Bryan Coxwell) Wawrin of Kent; loyal friend, Dakota Louise; brother, Daniel (Dorothy) Engelhart of Akron; sisters, Luella (Dennis Gagnon) Engelhart of Santa Barbara, CA and Linda (John Fowler) Engelhart of Evergreen, CO; mother, Gilberta (Benedetti) of Kent; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Engelhart; mother and father-in-law, Laura and Andrew Wawrin; nephew, Christopher Wawrin; and loyal friend Maddie May.

Friends will be received by the family on both Tuesday, September 22nd and Wednesday, September 23rd from 5-7:30 p.m. at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent. Private funeral services will be held by Cindy's family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made out to the Cindy Wawrin Scholarship Fund and sent to Portage Community Bank at 1532 S. Water Street, Kent. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.bisslerandsons.com.