South Deerfield, MA – Cynthia M. Magelinski, 87, passed away on Tuesday March 3, at her home, with her daughters by her side, after a 2-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born on February 11, 1939, in Chicopee Falls to the late Boleslaw and Catherine (Tynski) Peltz and attended Chicopee Schools. She met the love of her life, Stanley, while polka dancing with her girlfriends at The Quonset. They were married on May 28, 1960. They moved to South Deerfield after a short time in Sunderland.
Cyndy worked as a secretary at the South Deerfield Police Department, and as the Head Secretary in the Math & Statistics Department at UMass Amherst, where she retired after 21 years. She thoroughly enjoyed helping the students.
She was a member of the Whately Grange (60 years), a lifetime member of the Greenfield Moose and the South Deerfield Polish Club, which she was very proud of. She belonged to many church groups including St. Cecilia’s Choir, Rosary Confraternity and the St. Anne’s Sodality. She was also the Queen of the local Red Hat’s Society for many years. Cyndy enjoyed reading, cooking, volunteering, attending chicken barbecues and especially trips to the casino.
Cyndy leaves her daughters, Laurie Banas and her husband, David of Hatfield and Susan Monahan and her husband Brenden of Whately and three grandsons, Kyle (Kayla) and Joel (Kirsten) Monahan and Kevin (Kelly) Banas. Along with three great-grandchildren, Brenden, Sophia and Makenna Monahan. She also leaves her daughter-in-law, Ginger Dubois.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Stanley, her son David and her sister, Sonja Balinskas.
Calling hours will be Tuesday March 10, 2026, from 5PM – 7PM at the DROZDAL FUNERAL HOME, 120 DAMON RD, NORTHAMPTON. Funeral will be Wednesday March 11, 2026, starting at 9AM in the Funeral Home, followed by the Funeral Mass which will begin at 11AM at Holy Family Parish in South Deerfield. There will be a private burial in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, her daughters ask that donations be made to: Cancer Connection, 41 Locust St, Northampton MA 01060 in her memory for the WMass Mother’s Day Half Marathon, which Sue directs.
For additional information or to offer a personal condolence to the family, please visit Drozdalfuneralhome.com.
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