Rosalind Faye Cunningham

Rosalind Faye Cunningham was born on June 8, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas to Lowell and Lorena Cunningham. She was the oldest of three children. Rosalind made her transition to Heaven on Friday April 10, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family.

She attended Blessed Sacrament High School where she graduated salutatorian of her class in 1964. She then attended Lamar University and graduated in 1968.

After graduation, she moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked at Saint Catherine’s School as a junior high teacher. Next, she worked as an employment representative and then as a counselor at the University of Washington. Rosalind attended graduate school while working at the University, on a part time basis, and graduated in 1972 with a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance. Upon graduation, she worked at Bellevue Community College as the Director of Special Populations Services for seven years.

Rosalind and her daughters, Nicole and Erin, moved to Austin in 1979, where she enrolled in the Community College Leadership doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin. She completed all coursework toward the doctorate before deciding that Counseling, not Administration, was her true passion. She was hired as a counselor at Austin Community College (ACC) in 1981 and retired in 2001 after two battles with cancer. After a five-year absence, she returned to ACC in 2006 where she worked until January 2020.

"ROZ" touched the lives of her family, friends, students, colleagues, and all those she encountered. Her great JOY was working with people and watching them achieve their life goals. Her joyful attitude, sense of humor, and caring spirit filled every aspect of her life. A note found amongst her things exemplified perfectly who she was – “Thank you for being a blessing in my life. Not only do you share wisdom, but your actions and the upright and joyful way you live is the greatest example of all.”

"ROZ" loved God above all else, and she was a faithful member of Holy Cross Catholic Church for 41 years where she served in various ministries. In 1987, she married William J. Punch Sr. and together, they served as the Youth Group Directors for seven years, where they established the first Holy Cross Church Scholarship Fund for youth group members. During her 41 years of membership, she served on the Parish Council, Finance Council, co-chair of the Family Life Ministry, Chair of the Bazaar Auction, Director of Lector training, and as a lector until 2020.

Rosalind is preceded in death by her parents, Lowell and Lorena Cunningham; sister, Ruth Adams; and brother, James Cunningham. She leaves to celebrate and cherish her life: daughters, Nicole Conway (Lewis) of Union City, NJ and Erin Cunningham of Austin, TX; daughter/niece, Lydia Jones of Austin, TX; brother, Lowell Cunningham (Alicia) of Oakland, CA; granddaughters, Loren Cunningham-Bishop (Tehran) and Kayla Cunningham of Austin, TX; great granddaughters, Triniti, Titan, and Taj Bishop of Austin, TX and Cherryl Jones of Austin, TX; sister-friends, Jon Jon Givens of Grambling, LA and Jeannye Polk of Austin, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful friends.

MESSAGE FROM THE FAMILY:

We will truly miss you and always cherish you in our hearts. You will always be our Guardian Angel and Protector. We will continue your Legacy of Love, Kindness, Gratitude, Service, and JOY! We are eternally grateful to God for sending us his PRECIOUS ANGEL to be the LOVE, LIGHT, and JOY of our Lives!

A Celebration of Life honoring "ROZ" will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1610 E. 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702 with Very Rev. Father Basil Aguzie, MSP officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Rosalind F. Cunningham to The Rosalind F. Cunningham Endowed Scholarship Fund at Austin Community College. Please follow the link below to make your contribution:

https://www.austincc.edu/offices/acc-foundation

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Cunningham family.

The Memorial Service will be available via live stream with the following link starting at 12:45 PM on Saturday, August 29, 2020:

https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Cross-Catholic-Church-251041098354868/