Although it was a sad occasion, the family of Cynnie McNaughten made sure there was humor. The note under the bag of marbles reads: Mom was always saying she’d lost her marbles…we found them! Cynnie McNaughten died on March 9 at the age of 89. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
Family and friends remembered Cynthia “Cynnie” McNaughten at a service on Saturday, 4/28, at Riverside Cemetery, and then at her house in Fairhaven. She died on March 9 at the age of 89. Her five children, her grandchildren, other family members, friends, and fellow volunteers from various organizations reminisced about a woman with a lot of energy who never lacked for projects to keep her busy.
Her children joked about the “red pencil,” that she was so quick to pull out to correct grammatical errors in personal correspondence and the New York Times alike.
For those of us who knew her only in recent years, it was a bit of an eye opener to see pictures of her on a sailboat, hear stories of her love of hiking and any outdoor activity.
Even during her final weeks at Our Lady’s Haven, Cynnie was worried about all the projects she needed to finish. Her daughter Julia said that they were working on ways to get the projects to Cynnie, since it was clear that she would not be going home.
Friends from around the area also attended, remembering her as the go-to person for anything historical, grammatical, or needing research.
L-R: Cynnie McNaughten’s children, Betsey (Margaret Elizabeth) McNaughten, Paul Shurtleff McNaughten, Neal Harris McNaughten, Julia Meiggs (McNaughten) Kerr, William McNaughten Loving. Photo by Beth David.
Karen Vilandry, a Fairhaven resident who is active in many local causes, said she felt it was important to attend, noting Ms. McNaughten’s membership and involvement on different committees in town.
“Cynnie certainly had a sincere interest in the history of our town, and preserving it,” said Ms. Vilandry. “She wanted to make sure that the facts were correct. And she would go to whatever lengths she had to to do that.”
Her meticulous nature was perfect for her research and history projects, especially her genealogy projects. She could trace her ancestry back to William Shurtleff, who arrived on the Mayflower’s second voyage, according to her son Will.
Her children joked that she would not give them any photos without making sure each one was labeled on the back with the date and place it was taken. She was also, apparently, an accomplished photographer.
A member of the local Smith College alumnae association attended the service, and said she worked with Cynnie in the local alum chapter when Cynnie served as treasurer and in other capacities.
Just a couple of years younger than Barbara Bush, Cynnie was at Smith College at the same time as the famous first lady and mother of a president.
But, said one relative, Cynnie told her: “We ran in different circles.”
Cynnie also took control of her graveside service. Having her ashes interred at the
Cynthia “Cynnie” McNaughten, Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington. Probably taken 1943-44, when she was a teenager.
Shurtleff Family plot in Riverside Cemetery, she insisted that everyone present place a little dirt on the grave.
“Her funeral was not like anything that I’ve ever been to before,” said Ms. Vilandry. “Cynnie was all about doing things the right way.”
Ms. Vilandry said she was amazed at the number of history books on Fairhaven that Cynnie had.
“I could just sit there for hours and listen to Cynnie,” said Ms. Vilandry. “She was always so interesting.”
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