November 30, 1960 - April 7, 2021
~ Her acts of kindness gathered friends like flowers ~
It is with great sorrow that we announce that Cindy passed away peacefully at home in the company of her husband and children, on the morning of April 7, 2021.
Cindy was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba on November 30, 1960 to Jim and Peggy (Jensen) Lang. She moved to Thompson, Manitoba in the early 1960's where her father worked in operations for the International Nickel Company and her mother was a homemaker.
Cindy grew up in a loving family as the oldest sibling, with two sisters and a brother, enjoying the summers at the lake and visiting family in the Dauphin, Manitoba area.
Cindy graduated from R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson, Manitoba in 1978 and enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Winnipeg. While on summer break the following year she met her soul mate and future husband Kelvin Koutecky in Thompson, also on a summer break from university.
After a wonderful canoe ride and quick summer romance, a mid-August snowfall convinced them to head south and west to Nanaimo, British Columbia to seek warmer climes.
In the spring of the following year, Cindy and Kel were married in Thompson, Manitoba on April 5, 1980. They lived in Nanaimo before moving to Kimberley, BC in December 1980, where her husband found employment at the Cominco Metals Design Office.
Cindy started her financial career with the Kimberly Credit Union as a teller and found her passion for helping others through community volunteering with the local school District Parent Advisory Council, Kimberley Arts Council, and the United Way.
Cindy and Kel spent their younger married years in Kimberley where they had three wonderful children. Cindy was very proud of Jody, Evan and Jared, whom she loved so very dearly. They spent many summers camping, canoeing, and driving back to Manitoba to visit relatives, and many winters plying the local ski slopes and cross country ski trails.
With the mine and mill shutting down in Kimberley in 1990 and restarting at a reduced capacity, the family decided to move back to Nanaimo on the west coast. After living in Nanaimo for a year, Cindy and her husband found their favourite neighbourhood in Beachcomber, Nanoose Bay while on a scuba diving day tour, where they built their first and second new homes on the same street.
She enjoyed snow skiing, scuba diving, power boating, sailing, kayaking, hiking, biking, flying and gardening. Her later years saw many trips with her husband to Latin America, Caribbean islands, Peru and South East Asia. Cindy always said "Everywhere Once!"
Cindy continued with her financial services career and started employment with Coastal Community Credit Union (formerly Nanaimo Credit Union) where she managed branches on Vancouver Island from Chemainus to Courtenay throughout her career. She was well known for her knowledge in the mortgage industry and was tapped to create and manage a successful mortgage broker centre in Nanaimo. She enjoyed helping people, making many friends, mentoring the younger staff and helping many families with their first mortgage and finances.
Cindy continued her life long passion to community service, volunteering with the Qualicum Chamber of Commerce, Qualicum Fire and Ice Society, Milner Gardens and Woodland Society, Nanoose Community Services, Nanaimo Community Hospice, and most recently with the Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society and Nanaimo Community Futures. Cindy was never one to say "no" and you would be greeted with "hello my friend" and an undivided ear for your conversations with her. Her acts of kindness gathered friends like flowers.
Cindy retired from Coastal Community Credit Union on December 31, 2019 but continued with her commitment to community volunteering until the day she was no longer able.
Cindy is survived by her husband Kelvin Koutecky, daughter Jody (Aaron) Kary of North Saanich, BC; sons, Evan (Cynthia) of Fort MacMurray, Alberta, and Jared of Victoria, BC; three grandchildren, Myles, Rhys and Cameron Kary; father, Jim Lang of Dauphin Manitoba; mother in law, Ollie Koutecky of Swan River, Manitoba; sisters, Connie (Brian) Plamondon of Thompson, Manitoba, Carrie Lang of Dauphin, Manitoba, and brother Lindsay (Denise) Lang of Grandview, Manitoba; nieces Brittany, Chelsea, Mercedes, Leah, Camille and Rachael; nephews Michael, Gabriel, Bradley; brother in law Brent Koutecky of Birch River, Manitoba; with many loving uncles, aunts, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, god daughter Megan, and friends.
She was predeceased by her mother Peggy, whom she dearly loved on March 15, 2021; her niece, Megan Koutecky and sister in law, Teri (Koutecky) Raiford.
Cindy will be very deeply missed by her family and many friends. The family would like to thank Oceanside Community Hospice, Island Health palliative care nurses, and Dr. Cafferky for the care and attention Cindy received.
Cindy's wish was to be cremated. In lieu of flowers please donate to either Nanaimo Community Hospice (nanaimohospice.com), Oceanside Community Hospice (oceansidehospice.com), or Nanoose Community Services (nanoosecommunityservices.org). Condolences to the family may be left at dignitymemorial.com
A celebration of life will be postponed until a later date when more favourable conditions to gather are available.