Cynthia Sinclair Young

Cynthia Sinclair Young, known as Cyndi to her loving family, passed away on Saturday, September 13th at Harbor Hospice after courageously battling colon cancer. She was 71 years old.

Born on October 13, 1953, in Bristol, Tennessee, Cynthia was the fourth and youngest child of Gerald and Rebecca Young. As the baby of the family, she would often say with a smile, "Mom and Dad loved me the best!" This warmth and humor would define her throughout her life.

While Cynthia made her living as an insurance adjuster, her true calling was in service to others. Her passion for volunteering and community support touched countless lives throughout the Alief neighborhood of Houston, Texas, where she resided.

At the time of her death, Cynthia served as president of her neighborhood's Home Owners Association, taking pride in keeping the community vibrant. For 25 years, she volunteered at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo BBQ cookoff, helping to feed over 3,000 volunteers annually. She became renowned for her culinary skills, particularly her legendary bread pudding.

Cynthia's love for animals led her to champion The Empty Shelter Project in her Houston neighborhood. She was instrumental in organizing events that provided free spaying and neutering services for 500 pets, personally organizing a crew who provided meals for the volunteers and veterinarians. As a member of the Alief Super Neighborhood Council, she helped envision and support the building of the Alief Neighborhood Center and participated in planting over 3,500 trees to combat heat in the community.

Three years ago, Cynthia found her spiritual home at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, where she immediately began serving wherever needed. Church members fondly remember that she never said no to helping others. Both she and the community were blessed by this relationship.

One of Cynthia's greatest gifts was her ability to connect with people. She never met a stranger and possessed the remarkable skill of making and keeping lifelong friendships. She treated her friends as family, always finding time to reach out and offer support. During her illness, her home and hospital room were filled with visitors who cherished her.

Cynthia's many passions included her beloved animal family members - cats, dogs (especially her Chiweenie), birds, and her horse Savannah.

Cynthia is survived by her husband Estoban Rivera, her granddaughter Lori Rhorer, her brother Gerald Young and his wife Ruth Young, her sister Vickie Carrillo and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Gerald Young, her mother Rebecca Young, and her brother Richard Young.

A celebration of Cynthia's life will be held on October 25th at 10:30 AM at St. Martin's Lutheran Church, located at 1123 Burney Road, Sugar Land, Texas, with a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Cynthia's honor to St. Martin's Lutheran Church.

Cynthia lived by the belief that "There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't yet met." Her family invites you to honor her memory by greeting others with the same warmth and kindness she shared throughout her remarkable life.

Cynthia will be dearly missed by all the community organizations she served and the countless lives she touched with her generous spirit.