Cynthia Battiste Obituary, Death- After a brief fight with pancreatic cancer, Cynthia Howell Battiste, 67, passed away on September 8, 2023, surrounded by her devoted family.
Cindy’s steadfast trust in Jesus, unending love, generosity to everyone, and enduring family legacy are brought to mind as we remember her. Cindy was raised with a solid foundation of “family first” by her late parents, David Wright and Diane Boyne Howell. These principles became the cornerstone of her own family, a reflection of the devotion she and her husband of 44 years, David Battiste, shared.
Niskayuna High School class of 1974 alumna Cindy graduated. She started dating David, her future husband, a Union College student, while she was a senior. After enrolling in Union College, Cindy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1978. She started working in higher education administration at Bay Path Community College in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, after graduating from college. Cindy started working at Union College as the Associate Director of Alumni Affairs in 1979, where she established a lot of friends for life.
Cindy and David started their lives together in Burnt Hills, New York, after getting married at the First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady in 1979. She started the most crucial job of all—being a mother—in 1981. The family relocated to Rexford in 1987, and their three sons attended the Niskayuna School District while growing up there.
Cindy was the ideal boy mother. She never skipped a boys’ sporting event or extracurricular activity. She showed all the families she encountered her love and care. Cindy made sure the boys would assemble at the kitchen table following games and practices as an active athletic family to talk about their days.
Cindy came from a large, loving family. They established holiday customs, took part in pool parties at grandma’s house, and took summer trips to the shores of Delaware, New Jersey, and Cape Cod. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and best friend to her siblings. She was also the life and spirit of their family.
She started a 17-year career as a teacher’s assistant at Craig and Glencliff Elementary Schools when her youngest kid started kindergarten. All of the students and members of the school staff could see Cindy’s warmth, compassion, and love for kids. She left a lasting impression on everyone’s lives, which was a testament to how kind and unselfish she was. Cindy withdrew from the school after the birth of her first grandchild to devote her time to caring for and enjoying her cherished grandchildren. Being with the grandchildren was a gift at every turn.
All who came into contact with Cindy were affected by her abilities and natural qualities. She has a beautiful voice. She cherished participating in the choruses at Union College and Niskayuna High School. She has participated in the First Presbyterian Church choir for the past 45 years. At christenings and family weddings, she sang with her sisters. She delighted in ringing the church bells.
Her exquisite handwriting was included on the most exquisite Christmas and birthday cards with a Christian theme, wedding invitations, and innumerable words of support, sympathy, and gratitude. Her letters demonstrated her creative talent as well as her keen interest in the lives of the people she cared about. She was an inspiration to everyone she met, a pillar of strength, a stunning woman on the inside and out, and an essential part of the lives of all who loved her.
Survived by her loving husband, David M. Battiste, and her cherished sons, Matthew (Lindsey) Battiste of Charlton, NY, Michael (Joelle) Battiste of Delmar, NY, and Scott (Kayla) Battiste of Charlton, NY; adored grandchildren, Louis, Fiona, Archer, Adeline and Theodore; her beloved siblings.
Pamela (Martin) Tentor of Auburn, MA, Timothy (Andrea) Howell of Orleans, MA, and Megan (Scott) Swenson of Saratoga, NY; as well as many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Cindy’s family would like to express their gratitude to the professionals at St. Peter’s Hospital’s ICU, Oncology, and Hospice for their compassionate treatment of Cindy and consideration of their families.
The Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., will have visiting hours on Friday, September 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, September 16, at 10 a.m., a funeral ceremony will be place at Schenectady’s First Presbyterian Church. The funeral service will be followed right afterwards by the burial.
Donations in memory of the deceased may be made to the Community Hospice Foundation, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205, the First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady, 215 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12305, or the City Mission of Schenectady, 425 Hamilton St, Schenectady, NY 12305.
