Cynthia Shilinga

Ms. Cynthia Maria Shilinga, 60, of New Britain, gently entered the Loving arms of the Lord on Thursday, Dec 29, 2011. Cynthia was a native and lifelong resident of New Britain. She was the daughter of the late Alexander Peter Shilinga II and Rose Gaudio Shilinga, for whom she lovingly cared for until there departure. Cynthia was a graduate of New Britain High School, and attended Central Connecticut State University. During her youth Cynthia competed and won numerous beauty competitions both on the local and state level, worked on countless political campaigns, and was an avid bowler. In later years, Cynthia embraced motherhood with the birth of her lifelong best friend, confidante and greatest accomplishment, her son Phillip David Shilinga with whom she shared an everlasting bond and lived with until her passing. Ms. Shilinga shared in numerous activities with her son, from Volunteering as a team mother and parent organizer for the New Britain Police athletic league Baseball program, cooking for bake sales and helping deliver newspapers. Cynthia was a true example of the phrase “a mother’s job is never done.” In recent years Cynthia’s favorite hobbies were walking her terrier Toby in Washington Park along with the other dogs of the neighborhood. She enjoyed cooking, her linguini with white clam sauce will be truly missed, she also enjoyed listening to music, and watching her favorite TV show the Sopranos. She was a shoulder to cry on and an ear to talk to whenever someone was in need.

Left to mourn her loss is her son, Phillip David Shilinga and his fiancée Lana Gambino; her big brother Alexander Peter Shilinga III; her nephews, Alex and Joseph Shilinga; her niece Candice Shilinga- DiCicco; her special great nephews, Joseph Shilinga Jr, and Angelo DiCicco; her uncle Peter Shilinga of Cobb California; her aunt Gertrude Gaudio of Old Lyme Connecticut and a host of cousins. She also leaves her lifelong B.F.F Camilla Chimiak Buckberrough, and her adopted daughter Marycela Valentin and her beloved dogs AJ and Toby.

The spark is out, but your warm smile, contagious laughter, will be etched into our memories forever. Your family truly loves you, misses you and will never forget you. God Bless the new angel.

Family and friends are invited for a memorial gathering on Saturday, January 7, 2011 from 8:30-10:30am at the New Britain Memorial Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave., New Britain, followed by a Memorial Mass at 11:00am in St. Ann Church. For tributes, online condolences or directions, please visit www.newbritainsagarino.com