Obituary of Cynthia Ann Taberner

Cynthia Ann Taberner (nee Pressey) of Kingston, MA, formerly of Cherry Valley, MA, passed away on October 25, 2024. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on February 3rd, 1959.  She attended St. Joseph's Parochial School in Leicester, graduated from Leicester High School, and attended Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State College.

Cynthia married Bryan Taberner early in life, and raised two beautiful human beings with whom she will be forever proud and grateful, Kimberly Coale (Taberner) and David Taberner.

To help to support her small family she worked two decades in the retail and then service industries, before finding her calling in social services. She worked for a time at Pernet Family Health Services in Worcester, then Leicester Senior Center, and for many years at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester, as Administrator of their Homeless Prevention and Emergency Stabilization Program. She felt called to do this work and absolutely loved it and the people she served.

Cindy had a way about her that not only allowed her to freely talk to just about anyone, but to fairly quickly get inside their lives and develop bonds. Her family has been in awe of this for decades. It has been that natural ability, her life experiences, and her raw intelligence, that made her a great teacher, and advocate for those less fortunate than she. Cindy has always been concerned about those less fortunate. She firmly believed all people, regardless of their status in society should be treated with respect, not as people that were less than. She found purpose in helping others better their lives.

Cindy felt fortunate while at Catholic Charities that she had the opportunity to reach out to homeless individuals and others in need through St. John's Food for the Poor. That’s what Cindy was most proud of; if she had been healthy she would still be doing it today. Maybe not at Catholic Charities, but somewhere she could make a difference in others' lives.

Her relatively short time working in association with St. John's Food for the Poor is the reason she wanted her mass at St. John’s. That church truly does God's work.

In order to lessen the stress of her life, and in search for the purpose we are all here, Cynthia began to meditate over 30 years ago. After trying a few organizations that didn't feel right, she reached out to a Trappist Priest at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer Massachusetts.  

Cynthia became the first Dharma Heir (2017) of Father Kevin Hunt, Roshi. Fr. Kevin was a gift that she will always be thankful for. He loved her unconditionally and taught her well. He became not only her mentor but her best friend and confidant.

Her given Dharma name was Kin Ryu, which means Joy-Filled Stream. She was affectionately known as Cindy Roshi, receiving Inka (final approval), in 2020.

Fr. Kevin and Cynthia were the lead teachers of Day Star Zendo, which was formed in 2016. She had the honor of serving the Day Star Sangha and her fellow practitioners, and participating in Retreats at the Providence Zen Center with Fr. Kevin and Master Jose Ramirez.

Cynthia leaves her husband Bryan, daughter Kimberly Coale and David Taberner. Kim married a wonderful man, Bill Coale, whom she loved as a son. More recently, David married a lovely woman, Laura Gennarelli. Her grandson, Julian Coale, was a shining light in her life.

Cynthia also leaves her sister Debra Pressey and her husband Gerald Kelley, her brother William Pressey, as well as her mother-in-law L. Phyllis Taberner, her brothers-in-law Scott Taberner and his wife Karen Silva, Lee Taberner, Mark Taberner and his wife Dani, Paul Taberner and his wife Laura, and her sister-in-law Aimee Taberner. She also leaves her many nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.          

Cynthia also leaves Father Kevin Hunt, Sandra Azar, Marla Hopkins, Eve Marko, Liz Johansin and Lisa Genest, whom she loved and adored and was so very thankful for their presence in her life. There are so many more people that she was blessed with in her life that there are just too many to mention. She leaves her beloved companions, Teddy, Dogen and Bailey. She loved them more than words can say.

Cynthia was born with a genetic connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. As time wore on, the disease took more and more of a toll, affecting every system in her body. Bringing awareness of Ehlers-Danlos was very important to her. She suffered without knowing what was causing her many diagnoses until she was 54 years old.  It is imperative that next generations are screened for this genetic disorder and that more research is put into finding the answers. Next generations deserve better.

Her funeral will take place at St. John's Catholic Church at 44 Temple Street in Worcester, MA on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Cynthia's life at Dino's Restaurant at 13 Lord Street in Worcester following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, anyone who would like to donate should send a donation in Cynthia's name to St. John's Food for the Poor. www.stjohnsfoodforthepoor.org