Cynthia Kukuchek 1946-2025

Cynthia Kukuchek, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home in Bonita on June 12, 2025. She loved her family and friends deeply, all of whom will cherish their beautiful memories of her.

Cynthia was born in Maryville, Missouri as the eldest of five children to Norman and Doris O’Dell. When the family moved west, she traded small-town life in the midwest for the sunny beaches of Southern California. She grew up attending dance classes and graduated from El Segundo High School in 1964.

She was fiercely independent and at 17, moved to Hollywood. There she met and married her first husband. They moved to San Diego where she had two children, Shelley and Jared.

After the marriage ended, she went to work at NASSCO where she fell in love with Mark, who often described her as his Dreamboat. The two married in 1980 and the new, blended family—of Mark with his daughter April and Cynthia with Shelley and Jared—all started their next chapter of life together in Chula Vista, riding bikes and spending summers at Silver Strand. Cynthia was the ultimate soccer, softball, and baseball mom.

Mark and Cynthia loved traveling together and her favorite place to visit was England. They attended musicals and eventually took up horseback riding. They bought their home in Bonita with lots of land for big horses, small dogs, and family gatherings. Every year, they hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at the home and entertained the large, extended family and family friends as well.

Cynthia will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren as Nana Cece. She filled their childhoods with sparkle and magic, and was often referred to as the Fairy Godmother. She also took up video games with them and conquered the world of gaming as their Gamer Grandma. She loved reading and watching movies with them and talking about their daily lives, goals, and interests.

She is survived by her husband, three brothers, three children, her son-in-law, three grandchildren, her Yorkie named Muffin, and many extended family members. She will be missed by all. She touched many hearts during her lifetime and will be remembered with a smile that warms the heart and fills the spirit. The family will hold a private celebration of life at their home.

San Diego Union Tribune | June 14, 2025

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