Cindy Passannante

Cindy Passannante passed away Sunday, November 27th having dealt with some health issues lately. Her final day at home was a good one with Tony, her husband and best friend of 59 years. She was surrounded by loved ones at the time of her passing and will be greatly missed.

Cindy was born in 1944 in Rockford, IL to her parents, James and Helen Raney. The family moved to Los Angeles, CA when she was still young and she grew up in the Westchester area. Cindy met Tony in the fall of 1963 during his college days in L.A. as Tony’s career as an airline pilot took off, so did their family with the births of their three children, Eric, Mark, and Lana. Their time in California came to an end when Cindy and Tony moved the family to Damascus, OR in 1979, into their “forever” home.

Not one to be idle, Cindy went in search of the right career, eventually choosing one that allowed her to experience and share her great passion for travel. She opened her travel agency, C.P. Trips, Inc. in the 1990s and continued to help people experience the world of travel for the rest of her life.

Cindy and family began to travel extensively while the kids were teenagers and she never stopped, with trips across the U.S. and around the globe being a regular occurrence. As Cindy often said, “travel is the one thing you can buy that makes you richer in memories.” It was these opportunities that drove her to experience as much of the world as she could.

Her passion for travel and community support extended into teaching at MHCC for several years and mentoring many travel-oriented students. She also guided several travel agents as they grew their own careers.

Cindy also played an active role in several organizations including the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce as past President, the Gresham Chamber of Commerce as a past member of Board of Directors, and WITIA- Women in Tourism International Alliance as their current Director of Marketing- Americas. She was also a great supporter of the arts, including the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra as a past member of the Board of Directors.

Cindy’s other great passions included quilting, crocheting, baking, supporting the arts, and her grandchildren. Always one to share her stories, she was a woman of strength and resilience and full of compassion for others. She was Wifey to Tony; Mom, Nana/Grandma, and Cindy to her friends.

She was a fighter in spirit and full of life to the end.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Tony; her children, Eric, Mark, and Lana; her latest ‘baby’, Abby the Havapoo (see photo); and her grandchildren, (in alpha order) Caden, Cole, Gus, Isabella, Kaya, Miranda, Soleil, Sophia, and Tony; as well as her nieces and nephews and all their families.

Celebration of life services to be held January 7th, 2023, at 1:00 PM at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home 520 W. Powell Blvd, Gresham, OR 97030.

If you wish, in lieu of flowers please consider donating in Cindy’s name to any of the following organizations:

Legacy Transplant Services at Good Samaritan: 503-413-6555, Doctors without Borders, or the ASPCA