Cynthia "Cyndi" A.B Matthews

Auburn - Cynthia Ann Bockus Matthews - “Cyndi,” 64, of Auburn, died suddenly of natural causes in her home, on Sunday, August 9. Cyndi’s birth graced the lives of Pauline Ann (Dunlap) Bockus and Fred L. Bockus on Tuesday, March 13, 1962. As the first child and first grandchild in her parents’ families, Cyndi was showered with love and developed a deep and lasting connection to her extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and later cousins that lasted throughout the years. Cyndi was a bit of a tomboy in her early years, eschewing much of the “traditional” girl's roles for the rough-and-tumble world with her brother Bill and his friends in the neighborhood. While at first disappointed with the gender of the final sibling, Debbie, she eventually accepted and cherished her younger sister as a close friend and confidante throughout the rest of her life.

Cyndi attended Auburn schools, beginning in the former Stevens Mills school and graduating from Edward Little H.S. in 1980. During these years, she participated in Band, Latin Club, Student Senate, and Pep Club, played basketball, performed in school plays, and received scholastic honors as a member of National Honor Society.

Through her father Fred’s affiliation with the Masons, Cyndi joined Lewiston Assembly #14 of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, where she further developed her self-confidence and skills in leadership and public speaking through community service and philanthropic activities. With the support, guidance, and teaching of her Rainbow advisors and sisters, she honed her sense and sensibilities at an early age: self-reliance, fierce protective instincts of her own personage and of those she respected and loved, and a goodness ever-so-slightly overlapping perfectionism. Cyndi served in several offices within the assembly and eventually rose to Worthy Advisor in 1979, also serving on the state level as both a grand representative and grand officer, and received the Grand Cross of Color: the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member.

It was during her years in the Auburn schools that she met Andrew Matthews. Though not initially impressed, she eventually took pity on him and they began dating in 1979, a romance and partnership that would prove to persevere well beyond high school.

Cyndi initially decided to pursue a career in banking, and attended New Hampshire College (NHC) in Manchester after high school. She spent her summers and vacations working at Mechanics Savings Bank in Auburn, eventually accepting an internship there in her Junior year and rising to Teller Supervisor. While working full-time, she finished her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics/Finance from NHC in 1985.

During their college years, Cyndi and Andy’s love and devotion grew, and she joined him to live in Worcester, MA after graduation, blessing him with her hand in marriage on September 20, 1986, with her sister Debbie serving as maid of honor. Her mother Polly made the gowns and Cyndi’s veil was strikingly set off by a crystal rainbow headpiece.

Cyndi and Andy’s first home together was a small, two-bedroom apartment where they were joined by her brother Bill and the first of several cats, Flakey and Gizzmo. Cyndi worked at Peoples Savings Bank in Worcester, and although their life together was happy and filled with many new friends, Cyndi and Andy decided to return to Maine in 1988 in order to be closer to family while her father-in-law Clayton battled the cancer that ultimately claimed him. Through the unending support of both families, the couple bought their first home on Perley Street in

Lewiston in 1988, and eventually bought Cyndi’s childhood home on Cedarwood Road in Auburn from her parents in 2004, where she lived for the rest of her life.

After her return to Maine, Cyndi held positions at Fleet Bank and Pioneer Plastics, ultimately becoming the Accounts Receivable Manager at Southern Maine Technical College. As the result of her renewed exposure to the academic world, as well as her interactions with students and faculty, Cyndi made the courageous choice to pursue a career change and become a business arts teacher. She enrolled in Thomas College in Waterville, and while still working earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Business Administration in 1999. After working as a long-term substitute teacher in the Business Education department at Jay High School, Cyndi landed at Elm Street School (ESS) in Mechanic Falls, where she became the Computer Arts teacher, Systems Administrator, and girl’s JV Basketball coach. While working in education, Cyndi spent her summers working as a bookkeeper at Camp Arcadia, a residential summer camp for girls. When budget cuts forced the discontinuation of the Computer Arts program in 2010, Cyndi continued working for the RSU #16 (Poland, Minot, Mechanic Falls) and Auburn school departments in various roles until she went to work year-round, full-time at Camp Arcadia in 2018. Cyndi found a chance to return to public education in 2023, when she joined her longtime friend Heidi Broomhall at RSU #56 in Dixfield, eventually becoming the payroll and accounts payable clerk at the central office.

Throughout her life, Cyndi continued her community service and philanthropic activities primarily through her active affiliation with multiple organizations within the Masonic family. After receiving her Majority from Rainbow, she joined the Order of the Eastern Star as a member of Pine Cone Chapter #26 of Auburn and Abenaki Chapter #116 of Readfield, and was a Past Matron of Pine Cone Chapter #26. On the state level, Cyndi was a Past Grand Representative of New Hampshire in Maine, Past Grand Adah, and Past President of the Treasurer’s Association. Cyndi was appointed as a Star Assistant during the year her uncle Arthur Dunlap was installed as Worthy Grand Patron. Cyndi’s love of teaching and helping young girls kept her active with Rainbow for many years, serving as Mother Advisor and a member of the Advisory Board. In addition, Cyndi joined the White Shrine of Jerusalem, where she served as the Worthy High Priestess of Rugged Cross Shrine #5 in New Hampshire, and the Order of the Amaranth, where she was a Past Royal Matron of Pineland Court #6 in Maine.

Cyndi loved to travel - particularly “road trips” inspired by the wanderlust of her maternal grandparents, Margaret and Clark. After her wedding, she and Andy jumped in the car and wandered the East Coast for a couple weeks as a honeymoon, traveling to Stowe, VT, Gettysburg, PA, Williamsburg, VA, and Washington, D.C. Numerous day trips and overnights throughout New England occurred through their years together, as well as longer trips to New Brunswick, Broadway NYC, Nova Scotia, and Durango, CO. Other memorable trips Cyndi took with Andy included: traveling to southeast Alaska with her mother-in-law Beverly to visit their cousin/niece, CJ; a cruise with Fred and Polly that started in Puerto Rico and went to St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, and Barbados; and numerous camping trips with family. Cyndi also left Andy at home on occasion, taking a memorable “Thelma & Louise” road trip to Mt. Rushmore with her friend, Heidi, as well as several trips with her sister, Debbie, and their Eastern Star brothers and sisters for national and regional events. On road trips with

Debbie, Cyndi traditionally was Chauffeur and Deb was Snack Master; rumors state that fabric, beading, and stained glass supplies may or may not have been rescued from various shops, sarcasm may or may not have been wielded, and “the bird” may or may not have been flipped on numerous occasions.

Cyndi is survived by her husband Andrew and furry children Baxter & Lulu of Auburn; her parents Fred & Pauline Bockus of Harpswell; her brother William Bockus and his partner Melinda Pray of Scarborough; her sister Deborah Callahan and her husband Michael of Auburn; her sisters-in-law Debbie Matthews of Turner and Louise Matthews of Poland; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

The family is planning a memorial Celebration of Life for Cyndi on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at The Fortin & Pinette Group, Dillingham, Lynch, Plummer & Merrill at 217 Turner Street, Auburn, Maine. Attendees are encouraged to bring memories of Cyndi to share with everyone between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Cyndi’s name to either the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society shelter in Lewiston (https://gahumane.org/), to another animal shelter of your choice, or to the Shriners Children’s hospitals (https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/); or alternatively, adopt a cat or dog, and maybe even name them Cyndi.

For family and friends a far that would like to join via web streaming please click the link below:

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26091810724498