JOAN RAGAN:
Today I lost my best friend ever.

When Cindi's son Chris called this early morning, I was hoping it was a very bad dream. I had talked with him earlier in the week and knew Cindi was the most ill of the family, and he would have her call when she felt better. The last phone call together we had was Christmas Eve day and she was getting ready to cook for Christmas eve and the next day.

I talked to Cindi every day for at least four years. She knew me better than I knew myself.

On December 18, she was here at my place for the weekend to celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts. She brought her Airedales with her, who had a great day of running and playing in the snow and wearing out the dog door, checking to see where their Mom was all the time. We ate, laughed, sang and got really goofy in each other's company, along with my daughter Lisa & granddaughter Michelle.

We then planned her return on her birthday on January 28 to celebrate again, always bringing her KIDS with. My family & I will be lost without this wonderful person in our lives. So caring, sharing & loving the dogs more than anyone I have ever known.

DEBBIE BUTLER, of NCAR
(NORTH CAROLINA AIRERESCUE):
Cindi had a true gift. All of rescue is better for having known Cindi, and our community has lost a true warrior. We will watch for her special star. I'm quite certain we haven't heard the last of her.

BOB ANDERSON:
How truly sad . . . May there be a party at the Bridge today . . .

MEGAN SLATTERY, of CRUSA
(CAIRN RESCUE USA):
Oh, this is heartbreaking! I'm so sorry for her family!

Photo Courtesy Lynn O'Shaughnessey
Cindi with Minnie
Summer 2010

SHELLY SIMINSKI, of CRUSA:
My prayers to her family.

PAM SIMPSON, of CRUSA:
So sad.

BRENDA ISAACS, of CRUSA:
Oh my, this is horrible. I am so sorry to hear of this loss. You are right; there have been too many losses, but I'm sure her star will be burning bright and all her furbabies were waiting for her.

BENNIE JONES, of CRUSA:
My thoughts & condolences go out to her family & those who knew her. Seeing her picture with Todd, smiling, you can tell she was a person with a mission and who loved dogs and to help them. What wonderful words are written about her and the footprints she has left. Thanks for sharing, because people such as Cindi should be remembered . I am sure she is having a wonderful welcome of many dog licks & embraces from the dogs she has helped.

I am so sorry for this loss.

KATIE KNEESEL, of CRUSA:
Oh my, how terribly sad! Although I only talked to Cindi briefly when passing off Todd, it was clear to me she was a wonderful woman. Prayers for her & her family.

ELLEN McGEAGH, of SOAR & ATRA
(AIREDALE TERRIER RESCUE & ADOPTION):
Cindi was an enthusiastic & passionate believer in Rescue. She will be missed.

BARBARA MANN, of SOAR:
How awful! I'm in shock.

MARCIA FELTON, of SOAR:
Rich & I are very sad. Cindi was a GREAT volunteer for us and she will be missed terribly.

SANDY CHECK, of SOAR:
Such sad news . . . I can't believe that happened. She will, indeed, be greatly missed.

SIDNEY HARDIE, of SWAT
(SOUTHWEST AIREDALE TERRIER RESCUE):
Oh, my God! What a shock! What a tragedy!

SALLY SCHNELLMANN, of ATRA:
I!m shocked at this news. The Airedale world has lost a valuable volunteer. Although I never knew Cindi personally, I remember that you & she had a special friendship. I'm so sorry for this loss.

JAN WILES, of OKLAHOMA AIREDALE RESCUE:
What terribly sad news to start this new year. She will be missed; her diligence & "take-it-on" attitude were gifts to any group she graced by her membership. I always admired her talents & fearlessness. This loss will be felt for a very long time by the rescue community.

CHRISTINE SHEFFER, of ARWNY
(AIREDALE RESCUE OF WESTERN NEW YORK):
Cindi was always smart & dog-focused. She will be missed.

CHERYL SILVER, of TART
(TEXAS AIREDALE RESCUE TEAM):
I never knew Cindi, but I know from what has been said that she was a part of our large Airedale family . . . so, I say "Farewell" to a friend I never met. The following was shared on another list when a special member left us;it touched my soul:

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze, and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There! She's gone."

Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of destination. Her diminished size is in me, not in her; just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There! She's gone," there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,

"There she comes!"

And that is dying.

--Anonymous

ELIZABETH BERRY, of ATRVA
(AIREDALE TERRIER RESCUE OF VIRGINIA):
I only knew Cindi through the list, but I do remember that she was very active in rescue in her area. I am so very sorry.

KIRK NIMS, of ATRA & SOAR:
I, too, am in shock, crying. Too many loses . . . it is exhausting . . . .

MELINDA COSTA, of ATRVA:
I'm so sorry to hear about her unexpected passing last night. It sounds as if the rescue world has certainly lost a good friend!

SUE FORRESTER:
I'm so sorry to read about Cindi's death. There will be so many eager faces greeting her . . . but what a tragic loss for her family and all of Rescue.

RUSTY LaFRANCE, of SWAT:
I remember talking with her (via email) when she started the Windy City Airedale Rescue . . . I even have a note here on my desk from her that she sent me when she started it.

I am so sorry to read that she is gone.

MARY GIESE, of ATRA :
I did not know Cindi personally, but I am shocked at this. Please let her friends know that we will mourn her loss.

DIANE GAUL, of CRUSA:
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Cindi of Airedale Rescue. What a hideous reason for a death. food poisoning. I will be thinking of her . . . I am sorry for this loss. I am sure she will be missed.

PAT BEDNARIK, of CRUSA:
What sad news. I like to think she is getting a deservedly robust greeting at the Rainbow Bridge.

Photo Courtesy Lynn O'Shaughnessey
Cindi with Minnie
Summer 2010

JACKIE McGUINNESS:
It is very sad to hear about Cindi. There is only one good thing to come from this loss and that is all the unloved, unrescued dogs will have someone to take them over The Bridge - her final act of rescue . . . .

RAINBOW BRIDGE
FOR RESCUERS

Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly-restored animals fell into line and followed her towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of her work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When rescuers arrive, they are allowed to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge."

-- Author Unknown

KATIE WEST, of SOAR:
How tragic. I am so very very sorry. I did not know her personally, but it is obvious she was a wonderful person. My deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved her.

ANDREA DENNINGER, of CRUSA & AIREDALE RESCUE:
In October 2010, Cindi helped us move Todd from Wisconsin to Michigan; read about it HERE. The two photographs we have of Cindi are . . .

Photos Courtesy Katie Kneesel
Cindi with Rescue, Todd

BETTE BOYERS, of CRUSA:
So sorry to hear that.

LYDIA ROSS, of NWAR
(NORTHWEST AIREDALE RESCUE):
Sending much sympathy to her family at this sad time. The RB will certainly have great help making sure all the rescues find their way safely via Cindi.

SHELLY SIMINSKI, of CRUSA:
What a beautiful beautiful tribute to a priceless angel! I know Cindi is up there with all the ones that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge: She's lining them up, taking them for walks; she's providing her unconditional love. You will be missed, sweet lady. God bless you and your family.

THE STEUBE FAMILY:
Oh, our friend, how we miss you.

Who would ever have thought the day we checked out the ATRA webpage and decided to inquire about adopting a rescue, it would change our lives forever.

We picked out a pup that we thought would fit into our lives and filled out the adoption papers. We received a phone call that someone named Cindi is going to come to our home and inspect us. OK. How hard could this be? We were Airedale-experienced, so it would probably be a quick visit.

Well, the visit lasted over three hours and we all sensed that, somehow, we would be spending more time together in the future.

We picked out a pup from the website, but a few days later got a call that telling us she had adoption pending by someone else. We couldn't find another pup at the time, so we decided to wait.

A few days later, we received a phone call from Joan Ragan, who says, "We have a 9-month-old puppy for you."

I said, "No thanks." Our other dog was a one-year-old Airedale and we just didn't want to go through the puppy stages again.

A few days later, Cindi called and asked, "Will you at least look at the puppy?" I said, "Wait; that's not fair." We all knew that the minute those little paws hit the pavement in the backyard, they were here to stay.

Sure enough, that's what happened, but what an awesome dog she has become. From that day forward, there were phone calls & visits && dog play dates, hers & ours.

Cindi has opened up a whole new world for us, all about the dogs, and personal things too. We have met some pretty amazing people and some really amazing dogs from this whole experience. Our lives were truly blessed in so many ways by having met her, and will never be the same.

Oh, our friend, how you will be missed.

MARGIE HUNTER, of ATRA:
WOW. I couldn't believe about Cindi. Such a loss for rescue. So young and so tragic.

OBITUARY

Published in Chicago Tribune on January 6, 2011

Cindi Mysyk

Cindi Mysyk, nee Thomas, age 54, of Cicero; beloved wife of Russell Alan Mysyk Sr.; loving mother of Christopher Matthew Mysyk; dear sister of Neil Thomas, Sharon (Fabian) Borowiecki and the late Brian Thomas. Funeral Thursday, January 6. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

JOEY FINERAN, of ARADV
(AIREDALE RESCUE AND ADOPTION OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY):
I can think of no higher honor for Cindi. I also can't think of a worse tragedy. So sad.

THE CINDI MYSYK MEMORIAL FUND
FOR SENIOR AIREDALES

SOAR has been approached about the possibility of starting a special fund in Cindi's memory. Her family could think of no better way to honor Cindi than to continue to give back to Airedale rescue in her name.
So we have begun the CINDI MYSYK MEMORIAL FUND FOR SENIOR AIREDALES.
The details still need to be worked out, but the thought is to be able to assist families willing to adopt a senior with some of the extra expenses of taking care of a senior.

If you would like to make a donation in Cindi's memory for the
CINDI MYSYK MEMORIAL FUND FOR SENIOR AIREDALES,
you can use PayPal through the SOAR website HERE

****PLEASE MAKE A NOTE THAT THE DONATION IS FOR THE
CINDI MYSYK MEMORIAL FUND FOR SENIOR AIREDALES****

If you would rather send a check, the address is also on the page.
SOAR is a 501c3 organization; your donation is tax deductible.