Cynthia L. Barone

Cynthia Lee Barone née Jacobs, daughter of the late Mary Bunton Jacobs Arena, was born in Middletown, NY on November 2, 1953.

She graduated from Middletown High School in 1971, where she’d been a member of the choir and marching band color guard. Cynthia worked a variety of jobs before eventually building a career as a school bus driver for the Pine Bush Central School District.

On May 4, 1974, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas R. Barone III. Together, the couple had four children and shared 52 years of marriage.

Cynthia found joy in many handicrafts, including sewing (she made her own prom dress), crocheting, and hand quilting. She also enjoyed bowling and spent many years as a member of a local bowling league.

She loved carousel horses, movies, and purple was always her favorite color. She was a loquacious and enthusiastic conversationalist, always ready to share a thought or opinion.

Cynthia had a lifelong appreciation for music and rarely missed an opportunity to support her husband, children, and grandchildren at countless concerts and parades.

To her children, Cynthia passed on a love of reading and an appreciation for taking a moment to admire what she affectionately called "Bob Ross skies." She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren and loved celebrating their accomplishments.

She passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026, having spent the previous week surrounded by her loving family. She was 72 years old.

Cynthia was predeceased by: her mother Mary; her step-father Angelo Arena; brothers Benjamin, Kenneth, and Edward; and her beloved sister Katherine.

She is survived by her husband Thomas; her children Jessica and her husband Max Ferrara, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Anthony; grandchildren Jasmine and her husband Dylan LaBarge, Vincent, and Ivy; her great-grandson Chase; her loving older brother Ernie; and many other wonderful family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Cynthia’s name to Pets Alive, an animal rescue located in Middletown, NY.