O. Cynthia (Mckinstry) Rotando

WEST BOYLSTON – O. Cynthia (McKinstry) Rotando, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 19, 2017 under the loving care of her family and the dedicated staff at Oakdale Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center after an illness. Born in Southbridge and raised in Charlton, Cynthia was the daughter of the late John P. and Olive G. (Marcy) McKinstry and lived over 70 years in West Boylston.

She was a graduate of Charlton High School class of 1944. While working at Memorial Hospital as a candy striper, Cynthia met the love of her life, Nicholas Rotando, a police officer from West Boylston. They married on May 12, 1945 at Charlton City United Methodist Church and moved shortly thereafter into their new home in West Boylston that was built by Nicholas. She worked over 40 years in the women’s fashion sales, primarily for Fresh Silk Fashions in Worcester, and organized fashion sales parties in homes throughout Worcester County, retiring at the age of 74. She also worked as a telephone operator, a part-time dispatcher for the West Boylston Police Department, and a poll worker for the town elections. After her retirement, Cynthia put over 100,000 miles on her car spending most of her time as a volunteer driving friends and residents of West Boylston to appointments, lunch, or simply a ride. She was a woman of great moral character and always gave from her heart.

Cynthia was highly spirited, selfless by nature and community minded. She was a devout and active member of the First Congregational Church of West Boylston where she served on the bereavement committee and sang in the choir. She served as president of the West Boylston Women’s Club, a member of the West Boylston Republican Town Committee, Cradle Rock Chapter #25 - Order of the Eastern Star in Barre, past member of the Charlton Grange, and past member of the Friends of the Princeton Fire Department, West Boylston Harold N. Keith American Legion Post #204 Auxiliary and Hiram Taylor American Legion Post #189 Auxiliary in Sterling.

Her family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at Oakdale Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center for their positive efforts and care they gave to Cynthia during her stay.

She will be affectionately remembered and missed by her loving and devoted son, Peter N. Rotando with whom she lived and his companion, Jane D. Burgoyne of Lancaster; a brother, Forrest McKinstry of Charlton; nephews and nieces including Judith Roy; lifetime friends, Shirley Giakounis of Webster, MA, Anna Wolfenden and Ruby Vitkus both of Charlton, Lydia Valentino of Sterling, and Florence Bancroft of West Boylston, who passed away last Monday; and her trusted cat, “Mittens.”She is predeceased by her husband Nicholas, brother Albert McKinstry, and sister Ruth E. Davidson.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Cynthia’s family from 4 to 7 pm on Wednesday, October 25, at the Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tributes Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling. A service honoring and celebrating her life will be held at 10 am on Thursday, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in West Boylston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Cynthia’s name to NEADS (Dogs for deaf and disabled Americans), 305 Redemption Rock Trail, Princeton, MA 01541, or the First Congregational Church of West Boylston, 26 Central St., West Boylston, MA 01583. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" here on this page.