From Cindy Barnett:

I’ve known Syndi since she was seven years old. I was at her baptism. Snuggled up with her and read books. Watched her race around the basement in Waukesha on her big wheels. Helped me make the infamous meatloaf with fried green beans, stood by my side and learned how to make biscuits and gravy. I watched her and Becky, her bestie, play together. They both loved strawberry shortcake dolls, so much so that it could be considered an addiction. She had a passion for shoes even when she was small and most of All she wanted was to be loved and noticed.   

It broke my heart when we moved to Oklahoma because I left behind my Ridenour babies.  

I heard about Syndi’s passion for music and singing. Sometimes she would sing to me over the telephone. We came to visit a few times and during one of our visits she and Becky went to a music festival in downtown Milwaukee area. No cell phones back then and they were terrified because they were being followed by a group of boys and they were trying their best to lose them.… Later that same week, Holly and I went out for a drive to get frozen custard with Becky and Syndi… Holly decided to teach the girls how to pick up boys. She hung her head outside the station wagon window, slapped the side of the car and yelled hubba hubba at the group of boys. I don’t think I had ever seen Syndi so embarrassed, nor laugh so hard. When Syndi was 16 she came to Oklahoma and visited for two weeks. During that time I taught her how to drive stick shift just like I had Shawn. We baked pies and cookies, went shopping and we talked…..her, Becky and I. Nonstop. She loved to talk, tell stories, gossip, talk about boys, makeup, and clothing and shoes. And again…All she wanted was to be loved and noticed.  

As she grew older, she met and married Tom. Had 3 lovely babies, all who I had the pleasure of meeting when they were newborns and toddlers. She loved those babies. Motherhood Was such a blessing because…..All she wanted was to be loved and noticed and boy was she noticed and was she loved. And, she loved back even when Emily was wiping her nose on Syndi’s shirt or Tommy was making one of his many great escapes. There was not a lock that could keep that boy inside.

Throughout her adult life, I would receive phone calls about once a week and I would hear her say “hey mom” and I could tell by her voice whether it was a good day or a bad day.. but any day I could Talk to her was a good day. Because I loved her! Oh how I am going to miss hearing her melodic voice say “Hey, Mom!” See, she always called me mom, told me I was her 2nd mom or would call me out when I didn’t include her as one of my girls.

Syndi would share with me her frustrations, anger, life’s humor and triumphs, her irritation with Tom and her love for Tom. Her irritation with Holly and her love for Holly. How much she missed her dad. Her irritation and love with each of her siblings. And I said love because throughout her entire life no matter what happened. She clung to the love she had for her family. She was proud of all of you. Shawn, Frank, Amy Grace, Jayme, Whitney and Danny. She was so profoundly loved by Emily, Tommy, Izzy and Tom. She might not have always shared that openly, but she would confide that in me. Especially within the last two years. She was so broken because All she wanted was to be loved and noticed. All she wanted was one more day with Whit, Holly and Frank. Now, she has eternity with them. No more sadness, no more pain and suffering. She finally healed and is surrounded by celestial love, and she is noticed.

I will miss you so much my Syndi.

Love, Your 2nd mom

Syndi's Favorite quotes:

“I thought I would have to teach my daughter about the world, It turns out I have to teach the world about my daughter, They see a girl who can not talk, I see a miracle who doesn't need words.”

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,

but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine,

we consciously give other people permission

to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear,

our presence automatically liberates others."