Obituary of M.J. Cindy Dymond
Obituary - Cindy Dymond, B.A., LL.B., C.Med., IMI Cert. Med.
M.J. Cindy Dymond passed away peacefully on September 12th, 2021, with her beloved partner Ian Osgood by her side, at the age of 67.
Cindy was a quiet rebel, a supportive friend, a devoted mother, a maker of excellent fudge, and someone who believed deeply in the transformative power of music to heal us.
Born and raised in Toronto, Cindy lived her adult life split between Ottawa and Toronto before moving to Grey County in 2014.
In her professional life, Cindy worked as a lawyer, mediator and arbitrator. Her early work as Executive Director of Community Legal Education Ontario; as the editor of The Canadian Women’s Legal Guide; as Chair of the Ontario Police Arbitration Commission; and working to resolve complaints about long term care for the Ontario Ministry of Health all pointed in the direction she would eventually find most meaningful. Despite the higher profile of some of her earlier work, it was her later work in social justice where she found joy. She moved increasingly into mediation, conflict management and peacebuilding. She worked as a Circle Keeper with Peacebuilders International, which works to divert youth in conflict with the law out of the criminal justice system; and as a family mediator involved with domestic violence cases. Such feminist and anti-racist professional work was tremendously personally fulfilling for Cindy.
Cindy always loved singing and in recent years found ways to integrate her love of music with her social justice work. She believed deeply in the transformative potential of music. As co-founder of Singing Through Life, she sang to ease people’s time in hospice care. She also used music as a tool in alternative dispute resolution with the Peacebuilders, and taught others to employ the power of music in dispute resolution as well.
Moving to the Old Durham Road Schoolhouse in Grey County allowed her to engage with new communities, and she loved her life there. Her schoolhouse had been built by and for the Black pioneers living in the region in the 1860s. She joined the Old Durham Road Pioneer Cemetery Committee to erect a memorial across the street from her home that honours the memory of the Black pioneer families who settled the area. She started a community choir in the schoolhouse. As Cindy wrote “I believe in using music, especially group singing, as a way to heal the damage and divides caused by unresolved conflicts. Personal transformation is magnified and connectivity flows naturally when people make music together. The history, location and atmosphere of the schoolhouse made community singing there a natural project for me.” The Schoolhouse Singers’ first performance was, fittingly, at the dedication of the memorial. (To read Cindy’s account of the house see here). She also volunteered with refugee resettlement groups in Toronto and Grey County.
She was delighted to find true love with Ian Osgood, her partner and soul-mate, who so lovingly supported her through these final years. Although she wanted another 20 years together, she was so grateful that he was willing to share her final, difficult journey. She was also grateful for the close circle of friends and family, both city and country, who mobilized to help with an ever-changing list of supports as necessary through her illness.
Cindy is survived by her son, Max Deneau, whom she loved deeply; her partner, Ian Osgood, who brought an immense amount of love and joy to her final years; her mother, Gladys Dymond; siblings, Patrick (MaryAnne), Chris (Cathy), John (Barbara), Peter (Vicki), Mark (Barbara), and Anne (Philip); the Mamabolo family: especially Mamaloko, Joseph, Kgabo, and little Cindy; as well as many nephews and nieces; and friends from many singing, music, and social justice communities. She was predeceased by her father, William Arthur Dymond, and her brother, David Dymond.
The family gratefully declines flowers. If you would like to make a donation to remember Cindy in a way that would be meaningful to her, please support Musicians without Borders, a local refugee support group, or any group that works towards peace. And you can also remember her by singing joyfully. We want to thank the very kind nurses and staff at Markdale Hospital, all the doctors nurses and statf at Princess Margaret, as well as the scientists whose research on immunotherapy extended her life.
In accordance with Cindy’s wishes, a private funeral will be held this week, and a Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the near future.
We invite you to share in memories, photos and sentiments of Cindy's life here at her memorial web page. Donations to Musicians Without Borders may be made via the Donations Tab on her home page.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
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