Cynthia Eagles Hodgson

CORNWALL, Vt. — Gracefully and peacefully, with family by her side, Cynthia Eagles Hodgson died at home in Cornwall on May 6, 2008.

She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Dick Hodgson, and by her four children, Carl Porter of Longmont, Colo., Christopher Porter of New York City, Sarah Bell of Peace Dale, R.I., and William Porter of Shoreham, Vt., and four grandchildren, Lily and Rosy Bell, Christopher Porter and Beatrice Porter.

She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Jenni Brady and Heather DePaola, and two stepgrandchildren, Zack Brady and Mckinlee DePaola, and by her brother, Sandy Eagles, her sister, Joan Webb, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Reginald and Edna Eagles, and her beloved brother, Harrison. Cynthia was previously married to Robin Porter of Wickford, R.I.

Cynthia was born in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and attended Master's School, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. After graduating from Centenary College, she worked as a model at Saks Fifth Avenue. Her career encompassed her many interests that ranged from being a docent for the National Zoo and the National History Museum in Washington, D.C., to working in the Family Liaison Office in the State Department. With her first husband, a foreign service officer, Cynthia served in diplomatic posts in the Manila, Port-au-Prince, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Moscow, and Kiev.

In 1988, Cynthia married her high-school sweetheart. After moving to Cape Cod, they operated the best bed and breakfast on Bank Street in Harwich Port for 15 years. Cynthia also opened a store, Creature Comforts, that specialized in animal- related products. She worked for Elder Care in Dennis, the Harwich Chamber of Commerce, and loved her years as a member of the Harwich Garden Club. After serving as an educator for the MSPCA, she developed her own service, All About Animals, an animal and environmental study program for elementary schools throughout Cape Cod. Cynthia sang with her church choir and also added her voice to the Mid-Cape Chorus. She was a voracious reader and participated in several book clubs in Harwich Port. In 2005, the Hodgsons moved to Cornwall, where Cynthia pursued her interest in music and indulged her love of nature, history and genealogy.

Those who knew her will remember Cynthia as fun loving, endlessly curious, gutsy and beautiful.

Cynthia's final resting place will be at the Hodgson family plot in Dover, Mass. Her family would like to acknowledge the care and dedication of Hospice and the Wellspring Singers.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory can be sent to Hospice Volunteer Services of Addison County, PO Box 772, Middlebury, VT 05753, the San Francisco SPCA, or the National Wildlife Association.