Dear Grandma,

I am truly blessed to of had you in my life. You were an uncanny woman with the spirit of a lion and the heart of a lamb. I will never forget the days when you sat me down at the table to eat the delicious food you have prepared especially for me. What a wonderful treat that was, every time. You have shown me that you could freeze soup in a baking pan and it would be just as delicious when you reheat it back up - or maybe it was just your soup, in fact, I'm sure of it. I will miss the cards you've generously sent me every year with your eloquent personal touches in the form of beautiful artwork and poetic wishes of happiness and health. Thank you for all the wonderful memories you have given me throughout my life. You taught me to be strong, face life head-on, and never quit. Nothing comes easy and hard work is an essential part of a successful life. You have never failed to practice what you've preached - embodying your mantra and holding steadfast to any adversity that might compromise it. But what I truly admired about you, my dear grandmother, was the dedication to your loved ones. Your wisdom, insight, and passion for life is nothing short of inspirational. The love you have bestowed upon me, my sister, my brother, my parents, my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, and my grandfather will forever be immortalized within our hearts and our minds, alike. Heaven is truly blessed to have you now, as we all were, here on earth. I love you grandma Cynthia, may you rest in peace and bliss.

Love your grandson,
Derek Guadagno

Dear Rudy and my dear cousins,
How can I tell you what the Queen, Cynthia meant to me? First of all, my mother and father loved her. The way they spoke of her, with such respect and adoration, I got the feeling, even as a very young child that she was someone special.
I remember calling my mother and she would say, "I spoke with Cynthia for 2 hours today!" My mother would tell me the funny stories Cynthia would tell her, the news of the children and grandchildren and any other wonderful details. My mother loved those conversations. When I was a little older, I looked forward to those private times myself. I only called when I had at least an hour of uninterrupted time. I wanted to take in every word, remember every story. We spoke of my children and hers, her precious grandchildren and then she would tell me stories of our family. All of her aunts and uncles and cousins, sisters and brothers, no one was spared! We laughed ourselves silly and then we spoke of how much we missed them all. Only I cried silently on the other end of the line. Cynthia was too strong for that.
We spoke of my mother and father and how she admired and loved them so. When my father was sick, Cynthia gave me advice on how to stay strong, after all, her mother and father were also sick before they passed. Cynthia and Rudy were always at the hospital, always with a smile, to brighten our tough days. We loved them even more for that. When my mother was declining, Cynthia spoke of her as if she was an angel or a saint. She so admired my mothers strength and courage, to face whatever was coming and to fight to the end. Cynthia told me when she felt like giving up, she would think of my mother and she would tell herself to fight on. Well my family-we would expect nothing less. I am so sad I will never hear her voice again.

To me, my Aunt Cynthia was the "Bear" she so eloquently described at "Uncle Roles" memorial.I clearly remember not wanting the wrath of the "Bear" only years later realizing what a huge "Teddy" was in that "Bear" I too have a taped $20 to a beautiful card I will always cherish.I loved her spaghetti sauce and adore my Aunt Cynthia's hardened core and amazingly loving shell.I am thank full for her stories, crackling voice, six great cousins and an uncle Rudy who I have always admired. I love you Aunt Cynthia and will always, always smile when I think of you!
Semper Fidelis
Eddie

Rudy, Sidney, Patti, Steve, Gail, Lori and Rich,


We are deeply aggrieved at your loss of our beloved Cynthia. 


She was the best. 


While together in Pittsburgh for Uncle Leo's unveiling, Cynthia was teaching me to make a lokshen kugel.

After observing my technique she gave me a smack in the arm with a spoon and said, 

" Get out of the way, g - -dammit, you're being too tough on it! "

Mind you, it was I (!) who was being too tough... on a kugel !

She showed me exactly how she wanted me to do it.

Well, that kugel turned out to be the best kugel in the history of Jewish cooking.

That was MY cousin Cynthia... she might be tough, but she saw to it that she turned out the best.

And you guys... in you she turned out her finest kugel, ever.


With our condolences,

Alan Horovitz, Susan Maurer, Sandy Horovitz, Edward Horovitz and our families

My Aunt Cynthia and I have been carrying a love affair for about 15 years now.  Even though we were lovers I was not allowed to visit her.  Our affair was most often over the phone.  Many of you know the script.  I would call the house and Uncle Rudy would answer the phone.   Once he said "hello Suzie" she would yell "gosh darn it Rudy - or something close to that- give me the phone, she doesn't want to talk to you!"  Then we would laugh, tell stories and reminisce; she would share recipes and we'd even discuss God.  We discussed family, she would read me poems and stories written by the family she kept close & published newspaper editorials authored by her children.

She was as hard on the outside as the Pittsburgh steel mills she knew.  But on the inside she was the finest sweet butter whipped to perfection.  You know, the kind that is $10 a pound.

Now we can debate if she was a Gold or a Guadagno, but to me she was a Horovitz.  All those Horovitz's thought themselves writers.  Rollie wrote a poem about her she cherished, and she wrote pure love letters to me.  I keep them at my bedside, on my kitchen counter and at my office desk.

She was brutally honest and intensely loving.  She told my parents when I was a new born to turn me face down in my bassinet because my plastic lace diaper cover was better looking than my face.  She told me that story, laughed and laughed, then sent me a written love note about how much she loves me.

When I was elected Chairman of the Florida Ethics Commission she was the first one I called.  "Daddy sure would get a kick out of that" we agreed, and we both laughed some more.

She has 6 awesome children, truly amazing children who have cared for her over the last dozen years of her illness without reservation.  No children I know of have ever done more.  One couldn't have raised children like that unless she had that nachas within her to give them. They absorbed it from her and gave it back in return for her dedication to them.

So now I have only my cards and letters and notes from her.

She would always remember your birthday with a card, and despite my age and comfortable position in life, never sent a card without cash scotch taped to the inside.  She never sent an empty birthday card.

Do you know she loved Shishido makeup, purple eye liner and cookies shaped like decorated flowers?  On three consecutive occasions she sent back to the florist fresh flowers I had delivered to her.  Now admit it, most of you would have been mad.  But I discovered the solution to my dilemma.  I sent cookies that looked like those flowers.  She couldn't resist them and I couldn't have been happier to make her happy.

Cynthia you will be missed.
Here's to the good times.
Love always
Diane Horovitz

Grandma,

You have given so much of yourself throughout the years, it's hard to find a way to say thank you.  But for all the sacrifices you have made, and for all the wonderful stories/poems you have told us- we say thank you.  You will always be in our hearts, and we love you very much Bubbe! Love Lissette, Emily, Stephanie, Keith, & Johnny

Grandma,
When someone has given so much of herself through the years, it's hard to find a way to say thank you. But for all  the sacrifices you've made, and for all the wonderful stories/poems you have told us, you will always be loved very much! Miss you Bubbe, Love Lissette, Emily, Stephanie, Johnny and Keith

Love & Blessings to you, Sidney, and your family. Your journey to now has been full. I hope the memories you have of your life with your mother will comfort you through this time of transition. Love, Julie Klutinoty

To My Mother, No one could ever adore her as much as I did...She was a Mother who would guard her children with her Life and loved her husband Rudy with unconditional love!!! She would talk to you in a way (when she wasn't yelling) and still make you feel you were a smart and special child ...She loved her family and all her relatives and her Mother (Mamie) and Father (Leo) and brothers and sisters Donnie,Dinny,Alan,and Sheila were the center of her universe...She always had great stories to tell you about relatives when she was a little girl in Pittsburgh, Pa, Where she grew up.... Grand children were the spark in her heart and she loved talking to them and being around them and especially cook meals for them!!! She was in so much pain and I know she's now with her family loved ones and laughing down on us right now!!! I love and will miss you so much Mom you will never know.........Sidney

My beloved cousin, "Aunt Cynthia"The world has lost a true angel, the purest, most real soul any human being could ever be honored and blessed to know. I will miss you dearly,think about often,and cherish my memories of you forever. Kiss Dad for us, Sandy

OBITUARY

Cynthia Rose Guadagno

July 17, 1933 – January 29, 2013

Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels at Mount Nebo/Kendall Memorial Gardens

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