Cynthia Ann McDonald

Cynthia Ann McDonald of Langhorne, Pennsylvania passed away in peace on the evening of July 31, 2025, surrounded by the family to whom she had dedicated her life and unconditional love. She was 67 years old.

Cindy was a woman of uncommon warmth, empathy and kindness. She loved her family – particularly her four grandchildren – wholeheartedly and without reservation. She welcomed everybody who had the good fortune to meet her with unreserved excitement and sincerity.

Her petite stature could do nothing to contain her joyful personality and compassionate heart. With curiosity and earnestness, Cindy innately understood how to love those around her – often sooner and more deeply than they understood themselves.

The daughter of a first-generation Italian immigrant family, Cindy was raised in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania by her beloved mother Patrina Falcone, her Uncle Alfonso Cipriani and her Aunt Concetta Cipriani. Cindy's Italian heritage – especially the influence of her mother and aunt – instilled in her a lifelong belief in the importance of sharing homecooked meals with loved ones.

She enrolled at Saint Joseph's University in the fall of 1975 and soon met her future husband John, with whom she shared a 45-year marriage of unwavering devotion and love. In life and throughout her courageous struggle with cancer, Cindy was a perfect embodiment of Saint Joseph's motto of resilience, strength and faith: The Hawk Will Never Die.

Cindy and John settled in Langhorne in 1985 and raised three children: John Elliott, Anthony Michael and Kelly Patrina. During that time, she found countless ways to share her warmth and generosity of spirit.

After a period spent at home with her young family, Cindy followed her children to Saint Andrew School in Newtown and worked in the school office for seven years. In 1999, she joined the admissions office at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, where her sons attended high school. For over twenty years, she was perfectly suited to shepherd thousands of incoming students and their families into high school with grace and kindness. She became well-known in the school community for her optimism and wisdom.

After her retirement, Cindy was recommended to join the Board of Directors of Inn Dwelling, a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to help economically challenged young Philadelphians achieve self-sufficiency. Within a year of joining the board, she was elevated to Chairwoman.

At home, Cindy was often found in her kitchen, where she prepared thousands of meals for her family and friends while wearing aprons designed by her son Anthony. Rather than allow her loved ones to serve themselves, she preferred to plate her dishes and present them with pride & care. She spent weeks perfecting the dinner menus for Christmas Eve, her favorite day of the year.

Family and friends had their own favorite dishes and named them accordingly: Cindy Sambos, Ma's Soup, colorful antipastos that featured Aunt Connie's Cheese. She was such an accomplished chef that her grandchildren believed her buttered bread was famous.

Cindy was at her best in the company of her family and friends. She never hesitated to deliver one or more of her trademark hugs, to share tears of joy or sympathy, or to offer honest and thoughtful advice. She was and always will be adored by her grandchildren. Her kindhearted nature and playfulness made her a natural grandmother.

Cindy's compassionate spirit could never be forgotten and lives on through her husband John; her son John & his wife Kacie; her son Anthony; her daughter Kelly (Capuano) and her husband Carlo; her grandchildren Francesca Patrina, Isabella Concetta, Annie Rose and Michael Anthony; her sister Mary Linda and brother Anthony; beloved nieces, nephews & cousins, hundreds of cherished friends, and countless acquaintances who felt her warmth and generosity.

Family and friends are invited to attend Cindy's viewing at Saint Andrew Catholic Church (81 Swamp Road in Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940) on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 6pm to 8pm. Her funeral mass will also be held at Saint Andrew Church the following day, Friday August 8 at 2pm. Interment will be at All Saint's Cemetery.