Cynthia Mary (Hughes) Verhaaren

A pretty, auburn-headed beach lover from Long Beach, California, Cindee spent her teenage summers in Delta and Deseret, Utah having fun with her beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. She eventually attended BYU then stayed in Utah permanently after meeting her sweetheart, Harold, who she described as, “a handsome young man with pretty blue eyes” that she knew was the one when she saw him. Cindee was a faithful and valiant member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities throughout her lifetime, including Primary President and Compassionate Service Leader, and spent 17 years in the capacity of Secretary to Harold in his services as Stake Patriarch in the University 2nd YSA and Holladay YSA Stakes. She lived a life of compassion and kindness, constantly looking out for those around her who were lonely, downtrodden or unnoticed. In word and by example, she constantly taught her children to do the same.

One’s station in life mattered little to Cindee, and she was kind, respectful, authentic, and loving to all she encountered. Combined with a naturally happy, witty, and humble demeanor, Cindee made fast friends. Over the years, she gave away thousands of her famous and often-duplicated-but-never-fully-replicated chocolate chip cookies to family, friends, neighbors, and employees of the grocery store where she shopped when she felt they needed a pick me up or just to say thanks for their kindness to her. She could sew just about anything and was artful with embroidery, making hundreds of aprons, many of which she gave freely to friends, loved ones and ward members.

Despite a lifetime of physical struggles, pain, and too-numerous-to-count surgeries and recoveries, Cindee lived her life with determination and grit and rarely complained. She never let her challenges limit her, whether swimming across Alamitos Bay in Long Beach as a teenager, or raising five energetic kids. She was fiercely loyal to family and friends, a warm and attentive listener, an avid reader, and an amazing storyteller who could weave together details and context into a vivid tale with a clear, singular moral and point.

Most of all, Cindee was faithful and true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and her family who she sacrificed everything for and who were her reason for living. She loved her daughters- and son-in-law like they were her own and adored her grandchildren and great-granddaughters who were the light of her life. She wanted nothing more than for her entire family to be close to each other and to their Savior. She will be greatly missed, but we celebrate that she’s now with her beloved parents, Robert B. Hughes and Mary Anita Nisonger Hughes, and sister, Judy White (Harold White), who preceded her in death.

Cindee is survived by her eternal companion, Harold Verhaaren, her five children, Scott Verhaaren (Lisa), Steve Verhaaren (Jenn), Jill Sorenson (Roy), Brent Verhaaren (Lindsay), and Brian Verhaaren (Carla), her sister Susan Fisher (Larry) and 16 grandchildren and 3 great-granddaughters.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 2 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4407 Fortuna Way, Millcreek, UT, where a viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Cindee will be laid to rest following services at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.