Cynthia Peed

"You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart" she always used to sing. Cynthia Mariano Peed of Alexandria, VA, 61, whose love and spirit will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and community, passed tenderly in her sleep at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA on March 18, 2013. She was lovingly surrounded by many family members & friends. Like sunshine on a cloudy day, Cindi Mariano Peed brightened this world on August 24th, 1951, first daughter to Diana and Marciano Mariano (Oxon Hill, MD). The next eleven years brought a succession of siblings to care for and share with, love and be loved by. These early training years set the stage for Cindi's amazing affinity for endearing a vast network of devoted and cherished lifelong friends. After graduating from Oxon Hill High School (1969), Cindi put herself through college, graduating from the University of Maryland with a Bachelors degree (December 1976). A lifelong learner, Cindi also took graduate courses at George Washington University. Education was to remain a strong focal point throughout Cindi's life. She was an athlete, too, spending many of her formative years as a majorette in the Oxon Hill Majorettes Corps, and later as a Redskinette Cheerleader – she started early in her lifelong pursuit of bringing joy to everyone she met. Cindi's extensive professional life began in a federal service career with the Department of the Navy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Agriculture. Cindi spent several years with the Foreign Service in Tanzania, East Africa, where she learned Swahili and was the first person to hold the position of Foreign Liaison Officer (1974-1976). Although successful in her federal service career, Cindi was an original like no other and constantly molded life to fit her dreams. No 9-to-5 for our dynamo, Cindi was a 24/7 kind of gal—but always there for her family first! Thus began Cindi's 32-year professional life as a realtor. Cindi's real estate career earned her places of honor in the Mount Vernon Realty Hall of Fame and the Real Estate Million Dollar Club and the esteemed designation of Graduate of Realtors Institute- GRI (UVA). Later, Cindi took on even more opportunities and added real estate appraiser and entrepreneur to her list of accomplishments. NeighborWorks America was the next stage of Cindi's remarkable and satisfying professional life. Cindi's time at NeighborWorks America enabled her to travel, nurture community, and share her considerable expertise as an educator. Cindi directly supported many others in the pursuit of their dreams. As strong as Cindi's educational and professional career was, her family and friends were the closest thing to her heart. She always said her greatest accomplishment was raising her 3 children. She loved to go to the beach, hear her children play the piano, cheering loudly for them on the sports field, teach them to cook and love food, travel, countless hours with girl scouts/boy scout and school activities, travel, and just lived life to the fullest. She loved nothing more than doing these things with her children. Cindi's love for her children and care for the community led her to support the Bishop Ireton High School Band as parent, fan, fund-raiser and Hospitality Chairperson (8 years. Cindi received a number of cherished awards from Bishop Ireton High School for her spirit and sense of community. And always by her side was 'the wind beneath her wings,' her loving husband Doug. No account of Cindi's life can be complete without mentioning their unique love story. Cindi met Doug 40 years ago and they have been smiling, laughing, loving, supporting, working, building a life and family together ever since. And what a life they built! Cindi Mariano Peed packed living and loving into every moment! She constantly gave her heart away to all her family and friends through out her life. Those of us who have shared in this rich and inspiring life consider ourselves thankful and lucky indeed! She wore many hats throughout her life to touch the lives of many people. Our Cindi will be deeply and dearly missed for a long long time but, will always be remembered with a smile and a handprint on our hearts. Her favorite musical Wicked says it best – "because I knew you, I have been changed for good." Cindi is survived by her husband, Douglas Peed; her three children, Lizz Aviles, Catherine Turbett, and Greg Peed; her brother and three sisters, Mars Mariano, Nancy Kudla, Millie Camacho, and Theresa Jamerson; her loving aunt, Gloria Kaluzienski; and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and extraordinary lifelong friends. A gathering to smile, laugh and remember this remarkable person will be held at the Jefferson Funeral Chapel in Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday, March 23, from noon to 2pm, with a memorial service at 1pm. Her family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cindi Peed Memorial Fund that will benefit the Bishop Ireton High School Band Program. Cindi's three children all attended Bishop Ireton, where she worked tirelessly as the lead parent for the school's concert band, a cause that, in the words of her husband Doug, was truly "near and dear to Cindi's heart." http://www.bishopireton.org/support-bi/supportbi-cindi-peed-memorial-fund-main-page

Tributes

Cynthia Peed

August 24, 1951 - March 18, 2013