Cynthia Harnett Lang

Our sweet sister, Cindy Harnett Lang, passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at the age of 72. It was a whirlwind reoccurrence of cancer that snuck in and surprised us all. Cindy was always the big sister--babysitting, protecting, and guiding us through life as if she were our second mother.
Cindy was born September 4, 1950, in Beloit, Kansas, the first child of Dean and Ferma Criswell Harnett. She attended Beloit Elementary, Beloit Junior High, and Beloit High School. Growing up, Cindy and family enjoyed many vacations and weekends camping and boating. She learned to water ski at a young age and could run the boat out of gas before she was ready to stop. Many memories were made in that first homemade camper. Another family tradition began when Cindy was part of the high school band. When they performed each fall at the Kansas State Fair, the family loaded up the camper and stayed for the weekend. This would continue for many years after Cindy gave up her clarinet. Our parents always welcomed our friends, and many memories include gatherings at our childhood home. We were so fortunate to have had such loving parents to nurture us and give us a solid foundation of love and security.
After graduating in 1968, Cindy moved to Manhattan and attended Crum's Beauty College to earn her cosmetology license. After a car accident caused back issues, she chose a different career path, taking classes at Kansas State University. She was soon hired as an accountant for the newly-built McCall Pattern Company. She would spend more than 40 years working there, much to the delight of her mother who was an avid seamstress. Cindy retired in 2015 and enjoyed spending more time with family and friends.
Cindy was married to Ken Lang from 1995 to 2019. From this marriage, Cindy gained the title of stepmother. She welcomed her stepdaughters into her life with love and affection. She would later gain her most favorite title of all - grandmother. She enjoyed all the children in her life, from her grandchildren to her three nephews.
She leaves to mourn her passing her sister, Joy Brennan (Greg), Topeka; her brother, Terry, Cawker City; her nephews, Tyler and Trevor Harnett, and Lukas Brennan; her stepdaughters, Angie Dillon (Todd), Wamego, Amy McDonald (John), Valley Center and Kim Dressman (Greg) Manhattan; and her grandchildren, Morgan and Sam Wohler, Layton, Hadley, and Grace Bettencourt, Gavin, Kait, Jack and Brynn McDonald, and Cale and Rhett Dressman. Other special family members include Aunt Erma Criswell; and cousins, Jill Weber, Jan Hennes, Julie Wagner, and Steve Criswell. Cindy was preceded in death by her parents Dean and Ferma Harnett, her AFS exchange sister Alison Cribb, her stepson Mark Bettencourt, cousins Jason Hennes, Sue Hartenbower, and Andrea Hale, as well as many aunts, uncles, and friends who were important in her life.
Cindy's family offers a special thanks to the palliative care team, nurses, and technicians at Stormont Vail, Topeka, for the wonderful care provided during her last few weeks of life.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, February 2, at Elmwood Cemetery, Beloit. Cindy's memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, February 4, at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, Manhattan.
In lieu of flowers, our family would like to support the following:
Down Syndrome Innovations and their Flint Hills community group.
Gifts can be made online or mailed to the following address.
(Please note Cindy Lang in the dedication section if donating online or on the memo line if writing a check.) https://kcdsi.org/donation-form/
Down Syndrome Innovations
5916 Dearborn
Mission, KS 66202
Memorial contributions may also be made to the Stormont Vail Foundation to be designated for the palliative care unit who took such great care of Cindy.
Online donations can be made here: https://www.stormontvail.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Foundation-Contribution-Form_2020.pdf
or mail checks to
Stormont Vail Foundation
1500 S.W. 10th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66604