Obituary of Mrs. Cynthia Reyes Acayan
Cynthia Reyes Acayan passed on peacefully at Markham Stouffville Hospital at 77 years old. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband Rommel, her four children Claudine, Raymund, Reginald, and Ryan, in-laws Minard and Sheng, and her four grandchildren (Chyra) Averie, Richard, Joshua and Sky. Surviving siblings Noemi of New Jersey, Armi and Sonny of Manila, and their respective families, together with several of her nephews and nieces, will very much relish the precious time they have spent with her. Also known as Chet, she will be missed by friends and family in Canada, US, and Philippines.
Born in the Philippines in Malolos, Bulacan, Cynthia Reyes Acayan was one of 6 kids raised by Isabel and Sirio Reyes. She met her husband Rommel while they studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman and later received their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designations. They took their vows at San Agustin Church, Manila on January 16, 1971.
The happily married couple left their successful careers in the Philippines in 1986 and moved with their 4 children to San Jose, California in search of a better life. They eventually landed in Toronto in 1989 and stayed in Canada to plant their roots. With 4 young children in tow, it was a struggle to adjust but they always believed,
"We do not know what our future holds, but we know who holds our future.”
Their faith in God and in each other gave them the strength to persevere. They joined church activities through the parish Prayer Group at the Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Church that helped them greatly in their spiritual growth. They flourished as members and eventually leaders in the church community.
Cynthia and Rommel have also been members of the parish Marriage Preparation committee for more than 25 years. They have helped mentor 500+ couples preparing for married life, dealing with various topics like goals and values, readiness, communication, spirituality, parenting and financing. They reached their 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary on January 16, 2021, and Cynthia liked to emphasize,
"that married life is always made up of three parties - husband, wife and our Lord Jesus Christ who is always there to support love and respect the couple, and has to be consulted in all decisions to be made."
Retirement did not slow Cynthia, it only increased her compassion and capability to help those around her. Being proud members of the parish Prayer Group and the Marriage Preparation committee was not enough, as she excitedly joined other communities such as the Rosary Apostolate, the Seniors Church Group, and the Filipino Prayer Group for Life. She was always willing to help out and was generous with her time, often volunteering countless hours to those who needed it the most.
We will all miss Cynthia's love of family and music, her excited interest in Filipino and Korean dramas and the cooking of her many signature dishes, including her secret salmon recipe.
