Cynthia B. Gibas

Cynthia Gibas was born on June 11, 1924 to John and Francis Bone who lived in Wheaton, Illinois. Beloved mother of Beverly (Gary Milzer) Emery and Gary (Linda) Gibas; devoted grandmother of Lisa (Andrew) Ide, Michael Emery and Aaron Gibas; and great grandmother, aka G.G. of Cameron and Logan Ide. Also survived by step grandchildren Neal, Brian and Kate Stecklein, Lisa Thomas and Robyn Milzer. She was preceded in death by her son David, and husband Albert. John Bone was an important executive with the Telephone Company and Francis aka Fanny was a homemaker. Cynthia was the 3rd of the three daughters; the second daughter died before Cynthia was born so when she was born she was considered to be a special gift from heaven. The Bone family lived in Wheaton Illinois until Cynthia was in Junior High school. At that time her father retired and the family decided to move to Orlando Florida to enjoy the warm and sunny days in Florida. While in Florida Cynthia pursued her interests in music and dancing. She played clarinet in the High school Marching Band who marched in the Orange Bowl Parade. During her childhood Cynthia became very close to her mother's three sisters, Maude, Nell and Clara Smith. Because of that close relationship when the three sisters moved to Colorado Cynthia decided that she liked the beauty of Colorado. When she made her decision to choose a college she chose the University of Colorado in Boulder. She attended CU and chose to study education because she admired her Aunt Maude who was an English teacher in Denver Public Schools. During the summers of those college years she worked at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. After she graduated from college she took a job in the Denver Public Schools as a kindergarten and first grade teacher. That year she was invited to a church square dance at First Plymouth which at that time was located on 14th and Lafayette. That evening at the dance she met Albert Gibas. They fell in love and were married shortly after. Al was a remarkable man, also a teacher. He was an artist and entertained everyone with his caricatures. Cynthia and Al were a perfect couple; they both loved art, music, children, outdoor sports and shared their strong faith in Jesus and in God. They had their first child, David in 1947 followed by Beverly in 1949 then Gary in 1952. They raised their children in Park Hill, Cherry Creek then Hilltop. During those years the family attended First Plymouth every Sunday and went to La Foret Family camp during many summers. Cynthia was a wonderful mother. She adored her children and she raised them with excellent values, exciting activity opportunities, love and fun. She really played with her kids. She liked to participate with them in their interests and activities. She was a den mother for the boys scouting years and sewed most of her daughter Bev's clothes which they designed together. She taught her son, Gary, to play tennis and they played together often until he got to be so good that he felt guilty when he always won the games. She went with them on camping trips and supported them throughout all of their activities. She was also a wonderful wife to her husband. When he decided to stop being a teacher and open his own office equipment business she supported him by acting as a hostess for many events that he gave for his clients and she loved going to the annual sales conventions because she loved to travel. During those family years most of the traveling that she did was for family vacations. She was totally devoted to her family. When her children grew up and went off to college she and her husband, Al began to take more time for themselves and for each other. Al had always loved to play golf and she willing joined him and learned to play it also. She was an excellent golfer, biker, dancer and bowler. They both loved to travel to see places around the world. Being in the company of an artist gives one an appreciation for art in nature and art in history. She loved to learn about these things during their travels. She also learned about the history of Colorado and worked part time giving tourists' bus tours to Georgetown. They also took charity trips. One trip was to the Dominic Republic where they went with a group from First Plymouth to build a church for the natives there. They also took historical trips. A very tragic event occurred in Cynthia's life when she lost her oldest son, David who died in a hang gliding accident in 1973. Her heart was broken and it was one of the darkest times of her life. Fortunately, her second child, daughter, Bev was pregnant so she had a grandchild to look forward to. She often comments that her first grandchild, Lisa, saved her life. Her first grandchild, Lisa was born in 1974, and then her second grandchild, Michael was born in 1976, both children of Bev. Her third child, son Gary's child, Aaron was born in 1985. She loved being a grandmother. She spent countless hours playing with them, baby sitting and even took them on family vacations with or without their parents. It was a win/win situation for all involved. At that time in their lives, her children, Bev and Gary were both single parents. The support that she gave to everyone, Bev, Gary, Lisa, Michael and Aaron helped her grandchildren to become the loving and successful people that they are now. In 1994 Cynthia and Al decided to move to Heather Gardens. They had many friends who lived there and their passion for golf had grown so much that they wanted to be able to play golf almost every day. Al had retired from his office equipment business and they wanted to have a life of leisure together at a place that offered the many activities that Heather Gardens offers. In 1995 the second tragic event in Cynthia's life took place when her beloved husband was shot and killed by a person with road rage and a gun. After mourning his death for a year she decided she was ready to tackle life again and sold her Heather Gardens townhome to buy a Heather Gardens patio home on the golf course. She began to travel again by taking a European trip with her daughter, two bicycle trips across France and several sightseeing trips with friends or with groups. She loved Europe, France, Switzerland, and Austria. She studied the history, the art and the religions. Her years as a widow were filled with friends and with her children, grand children and great grandchildren. She played golf in tournaments at Heather Gardens, bowled on the bowling team, took part in the Frolics Talent Show at Heather Gardens, was a member of The Silver Hotties who performed at half time during the Denver Nuggets Basketball Games. She belonged to The Red Hat Ladies social group, she went to exercise classes, played bunko, pinnacle and attended prayer groups at Heather Gardens. She attended the Thursday Circle Group at First Plymouth. She also went to square dancing events that were held at Heather Gardens and other locations. One of the most special things that she enjoyed in her years as a widow was being a great grandmother. Her nickname for great grandmother was GG. She loved her grandsons, Cameron and Logan. Everyone loved Cynthia. There wasn't ever a time of conflict with a single person. She was too nice, too positive and very generous with gift giving. Jesus and God sent her to earth on loan to help and love everyone she knew. Now they have called her back. Her death was peaceful and easy because although her health was excellent she was ready to go home to God in heaven and to be with her son, husband, mother and father. She will be so missed. Her Visitation will be Thursday, May 30, from 5-7 PM at Horan & McConaty, 11150 East Dartmouth Avenue in Aurora. Funeral Service will be Friday, May 31, 11 AM, with viewing one hour prior, at First Plymouth Church, 3501 South Colorado Boulevard, Englewood, Colorado. Interment to follow at Fairmount Cemetery. Please share your memories of Cynthia and condolences with her family by signing the Guestbook.