Cynthia "Cindy" Marie Dalla passed away on July 25, 2021, in Phoenix, Arizona, following a life guided by kindness and generosity. Cindy's spirited energy throughout her 61 years was a force that brought people together and made them feel loved. That energy will live on in so many of the lives she touched.

Born on February 5, 1960, in Berlin, Germany to Charles and Jean Swanson, Cindy's childhood took place all over the world, from Japan to Texas to Greece. She was a talkative, adventurous child with an instinct to care for others. She was the second youngest of four, yet often the one who was looking after her brothers and sister.

When the family moved to San Jose, California, Cindy began high school in America with the confidence of someone who knew their way around the globe—even though she didn't know her way around the school just yet. From a young age, Cindy was sure of herself and her abilities, even when she faced challenges. She was a strong student despite dyslexia; a social butterfly despite so often being the newcomer.

She became a letter girl in high school, which proved to be an excellent outlet for her bright spirit and seemingly endless energy. She loved the camaraderie and the thrill of performing.

Cindy and Joseph Dalla attended the same high school and met shortly after Joseph had graduated. Joey was into dirt bikes, and the two bonded over a shared love of adventure; much of their time together was spent outdoors, boating and camping with friends. They were just kids but their connection was strong and deep; the two were married on January 31, 1980.

Every morning for many years, Joey would go to Starbucks, just to get Cindy her cherished morning coffee. When Cindy was facing the physical challenges of cancer and the isolation of COVID, Joey found ways to brighten her days: He scheduled nail appointments and massages and arranged for shopping trips with friends. Joey and Cindy were always supportive of one another's dreams; they encouraged each other to be the best versions of themselves, and they had so much fun along the way.

Motherhood was a natural fit for Cindy. As a young mom, she worked long shifts at Albertsons grocery store until 1986. She worked tirelessly for her family, and as the kids' lives filled up with extracurriculars, she dove into volunteering for Girl Scouts, 4-H, field trips, and Sunday school.

In 1994, Joey and Cindy started C&J Engineering. It was the heyday of Silicon Valley and their work in the semiconductor industry was exciting and challenging for them both. Together they were a committed and hard-working team.

Education was so important to Cindy, but she put her own on hold to focus on motherhood first. Eventually she returned to school, squeezing in classes between work and taking care of the kids. In 2004, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and embarked on a successful, award-winning career in real estate. She was a natural, a people person, and she loved the work.

Cindy was a woman of principle. She stepped up whenever someone needed help. Annette and Travis once watched their mom buy a sandwich for a homeless person who was sitting outside of a grocery store when they went shopping. She always led by example, and there were so many moments like this one.

Running half-marathons and quilting were two of Cindy's favorite activities. They were an outlet for her energy, but more importantly, a chance to connect with others. She was always making new friends wherever she went and whatever she did. A love of travel was ingrained in Cindy early on and remained a priority throughout her life. The family took a big RV trip to Canada and so many other memorable vacations, including Hawaii and Sedona, Arizona. When the kids were grown she ventured further, traveling to Israel, Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland. Exploring the world gave Cindy more opportunities to turn strangers into friends—and she lived for that.

Cindy was thrilled when she became a grandmother to Annette's son, Ford. She visited him as often as she could and always showered him with gifts. We are all so grateful she was able to spend time with him at the start of his life.

Faith was a significant part of Cindy's life. She had a bible that was covered in notes and the wear and tear of someone who often turned to the teachings of Christianity. It was undoubtedly a source of immense comfort and strength through the challenges of cancer.

Cindy will be remembered as an adoring mother and wife; a friend you could always count on; someone who brightened every room with both her personality and the sparkly accessories she loved to wear. She will be dearly missed, but her memory will serve to inspire all of us to look out for one another; to be as kind and loving and generous as she was.

Cindy is survived by her husband Joey; her father, Charles Swanson, and his wife Mary; her siblings Charles Swanson, Steve Swanson, and Lynette Jewett and her husband Bob; her daughter, Annette Taylor, and her husband Nick; her son, Travis Dalla; grandson, Ford Taylor; as well as her many beloved in-laws, nephews, nieces and friends.

A service will be held on Monday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. at West Hills Community Church, 16695 Dewitt Ave., Morgan Hill, CA 95037, followed by committal and a celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Brain Tumor Society (braintumor.org).