Cynthia “Cindy” Marie Kelly Curran
SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA — Cynthia “Cindy” Marie Kelly Curran passed through the curtain between Heaven and Earth and into the arms of Jesus on Nov. 4, 2014, after three bouts of breast cancer in six years. She was 61. Cindy was born to Leonard Thomas “Tom” and Thelma Knopp Kelly on April 11, 1953, just as the daffodils were blooming in Utica, New York. Inheriting her father’s wild imagination and her mother’s tenacity for life, Cindy grew up as the second oldest child of four siblings. She lived briefly in Seattle, Washington, and Cincinnati, Ohio, as her dad followed electrical engineering jobs around the country. In 1958, Cindy’s father accepted his dream job of space engineer at TRW in southern California, so his growing family moved to Carson, in the South Bay, where Cindy attended Van Deene Elementary, Stephen M. White Junior High and Carson High schools (Class of 1971).
Cindy was a drill team member for Carson High School and was intensively involved in 4-H. She was crowned queen of the San Gabriel 4-H fair and earned many awards in home decorating, cooking and sewing, including the Los Angeles County winner for Dress Revue. Eventually she earned a trip to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago as the California state winner for Achievement, placing third in the nation in this category. After “graduating” from 4-H, she traveled to the Philippines as part of the International Farm Youth Exchange and taught nutrition in the barrios for six months.
After high school, Cindy attended Bryman College, earning degrees in nursing and x-ray technology. She worked in the healthcare field for 39 years; 26 of which were spent at Providence Little Company of Mary Urgent Care in Torrance. At this facility, Cindy started as a back office nurse and ended her career as the manager. Her ability to heal rested not only in her exceptional skills as a medical professional, but also with the light of the Lord she carried within her. Cindy’s boldness, passion and love energized everyone around her.
On Jan. 28, 1978, Cindy married her best friend, James Timothy “Tim” Curran whom she had known since her 4-H days. Cindy and Tim shared 37 wonderful years together and their lives were greatly blessed and enlivened by two talented and gorgeous daughters, Tiffany Marie and Katelyn Marie Curran. Despite Cindy’s many accolades throughout her life, she considered being “Mom” to Tiffany and Katie to be her crowning achievement and greatest honor.
Dedicated to the Lord, her family and to her “Missionette girls”, Cindy devoted her time to encouraging and uplifting others. She spent over 20 years in Missionettes, working tirelessly to build up the next generation of K-12 girls to love the Lord with all their hearts.
When Cindy wasn’t at work, at church or enjoying her family she could be found at her sewing machine. She was an amazing seamstress, stitching together everything from wedding gowns to stunning quilts. Further, she enjoyed playing the piano and orchestra harp. And, Cindy loved traveling. Starting with the Philippines, she ended up traveling to Japan, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, England, France, New Zealand and finally Ireland.
Cindy was preceded in death by her father Tom and mother Thelma. She is survived by her loving husband Tim Curran and daughters Tiffany and Katelyn Curran; sister Lynn Kelly of Polson, Montana; brother Tim Kelly (and Debbie) of Carson, California; and sister Patricia “Tricia” Kelly Walker (and Nelson, Cashmere and Austin) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Green Hills Memorial Park took care of all funeral arrangements and a wonderful celebration of Cindy’s life occurred at Harbor Christian Center in Wilmington, California. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts be made in Cindy’s name to the Missionettes program at Harbor Christian Center.
