Cynthia Elizabeth Gedye

She leaves behind her dedicated husband and partner in life of 50 years, Richard Gedye, their blended family of children, all who were with her in the last days and moments to share stories, memories and goodbyes: Steven (Robyn), Alison (Remi), Julie, Adrian (Mia), and Ricky (predeceased). Cynthia will be remembered by her grandchildren: Robyn, Samantha, Jessica, Pierce, Justin, Tyler, Evan, and Matthew, and her loving sister, our Auntie Beryl, cousin Helen and Francesca, as well as many friends, old and new, including Francis, and Maria and Doug Goldsack who shared more vacations, camp trips and game nights than can be counted.

Cynthia was raised in Wales during WWII and returned to Poole with her family (parents, brother John (predeceased), and sister Beryl) in 1945. Cynthia later attended Queen Elizabeth College, London University, where she began a Bachelor of Science degree and met her first husband, Tony Beswick (predeceased). Tony and Cynthia left England with their first born, Steven, and headed to Baltimore in 1965 for further academic pursuits where Cynthia worked as a biochemist at Memorial Hospital and gave birth to their daughter, Julie. Cynthia continued her travels and moved to Canada where the Beswick family grew again when Ricky was born in 1969 in Sudbury. Becoming part of the faculty wives at Laurentian University and building friendships that lasted decades, Cynthia continued her own academic pursuits as she raised three, and then five, children with her second husband and constant, Richard Gedye. Cynthia became a social worker and completed her Masters Degree at Wilfred Laurier before becoming Executive Director of the Women’s Lakeside Center in Sudbury.

At the age of 60, retirement brought new places, friends, and experiences when Cynthia and Richard moved to Guelph and became active members of the Village by the Arboretum community. Cynthia returned to her love of sewing and all things crafting and took up quilting, beading, knitting and crocheting, as well as swimming and line dancing. She participated in many clubs and guilds, taught classes, held private craft shows, donated and worked on behalf of several charities and until her last days was crocheting poppies for Remembrance Day tributes. Family and friends have been gifted quilts, jewelry and many of Cynthia’s original pieces over the more than 20 years since she moved to Guelph. She was always active, prolific in her creative endeavours and pursuits and was never without a bag of wool, beads, or stitching scattered around the house or ready to go in her basement studio. It is also key to say that Cynthia made a mean carrot cake and that Christmas is only Christmas for this family when the pate maison and cheeseball come out. Cynthia started these traditions and the recipes are now living family heirlooms that are visited each year and have been since 1969. She was a great cook, baker, and master of fabric and fibre, and for a short while relished in line dancing with Richard as they continued to find their purpose and joy in active living and trying new things.

Cynthia and Richard loved to travel and were explorers at heart, instilling the love of activity and nature in their children from early on. Cross country skiing at Windy Lake, skating at Thorneloe College, tennis at Laurentian, swimming and canoeing in Killarney, vacationing on Manitoulin. and hiking at Onaping Falls are all activities the Gedwicks did as a family, and in the later years Cynthia and Richard continued to travel and discover new places. She loved the sunshine, water and beach vacations and many years were spent at the West Arm of Nipissing where they built a family camp that is still a favourite destination for her children. Her first signs of illness stopped these trips and passing on the camp property found Cynthia more and more grounded to home and ultimately a wheelchair. It was during these last years that life got smaller, but family became closer as we all worked to support her needs and even the wheelchair didn’t stop her from loving a trip to Costco, Dairy Queen, or Michaels for wool and beading supplies.

The family would like to thank the staff and community of The Village of Arbour Trails for their support, care and friendship, as well as Dr. Shira Thomas for her final support and gifts. It is with heavy hearts that we say farewell to those who knew her as Cindy, Cynthia, Mom, GG, and friend. Thank you for the memories, lessons, gifts and love. Our lives are ever altered by all you taught us.

There will be a celebration of life for Cynthia on November 1, 2025 at 2PM to be held at The Village of Arbour Trails, 32 Bayberry Drive, Guelph. Donations in Cynthia’s name can be made to the following charities she supported: Operation Smile, Covenant House, Canadian Cancer Society, and Wilfrid Laurier Alumni Association.