Louise Cynkus

Louise Cynkus died suddenly at her home in Ipswich on November 15, 2025.  Louise was a lifelong Ipswich resident, the older daughter of her parents Bill Cynkus and Jennie (Dubowicz) Cynkus.

     Louise attended elementary school in Ipswich and graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School.  Following high school Louise went on to get her undergraduate degree from Emmanuel College in Boston and went on to pursue a Master’s degree from Salem State.

     Louise taught at the Ralph C. Whipple Junior High and the Ipswich Middle School for 35 years, instructing 7th. grade students in English, reaching a total of nearly 3,500 students over that time span.

     In her early years, Louise enjoyed family boat trips with her parents, her sister Denise, aunts, uncles and cousins to Crane Beach in her father Bill’s lapstreak outboard motorboat.  Her love of the beach continued into adulthood, with vacation trips to Bermuda, Antigua, St. Martin, Aruba, and to Florida in Key West, Key Biscayne, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, St. Pete Beach, and Bonita Springs.

     In college, she worked summers as a playground instructor.  While teaching, she worked several summers at the Crane Beach refreshment stand.

     Louise was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Polish Catholic Church in Ipswich and then at Our Lady of Hope, where she was a member of the Catholic Women’s Club and a frequent lector at the Saturday 4:00 Mass.
     Louise was known in Ipswich for her amazing kindness and generosity.  Many Ipswich residents can attest to her thoughtfulness from the variety of greeting cards they have received over the years, from Get Well and Sympathy cards to celebrations of births and anniversaries and, of course, Christmas.

     Louise and her teaching colleague and good friend Sharyn Schnepel volunteered together at the Ipswich Visitor Center.  One summer Louise and Sharyn decided to walk all the streets in Ipswich.  So armed with a copy of the Town of Ipswich Street List they managed to set foot on every street in town.  Quite an accomplishment!

     Louise was a dog lover, especially of the Bichon Frise breed.  Her first dog was her adopted Prince.  When Prince succumbed to health issues at age 17, she brought home Rory, her constant companion for 6 years until Louise’s unfortunate passing.

     Louise is survived by her cherished younger sister Denise Leslie and her husband Dixon of Lancaster, NH, her partner of more than 40 years Frank Vidmar, and many close-knit family cousins:  Charlene Parro (Bob) and Judy Mitchell (Rich) of Ipswich, Janet Parro (Danny) recently of Florida, Janet Nolan of Groveland,  Al Romanowicz (Arlene) of Central Falls, RI, Marianne Russo of Lynnfield, Rosemary Fitzpartick of Hudson, and Jeannie Marchetti (Phil) of Merrimack.

     A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday  December 4th.,  at  11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church  54 Linebrook Road, Ipswich.  Burial will be at a later date.  An hour of visitation will be Thursday  December 4th.  at Our Lady of Hope Church from  10:00 A.M. until the time of the Mass, relatives and friends are respectively invited to attend.  In lieu of flowers, send contributions to:  the Ipswich  Animal Shelter  17 Spiller’s Lane, Ipswich, MA  01938.  Assisting Louise’s family is the Morris Funeral Home of Ipswich.  To send a letter of condolence please go to:  MorrisFH.com .

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