Mary Cynthia (Ross) Rice

LOWVILLE—Mary Cynthia Rice, 87, of Rice Road, Lowville, passed away Friday, January 8, 2021 at the Lewis County General Hospital.

There will be no calling hours or funeral service. A graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family in West Lowville Rural Cemetery in the spring.  In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are with Iseneker Funeral Home, Inc., Lowville.

Cynthia was born January 16, 1933 in Lowville, NY, the youngest of 10 children of the late Orrin F. and Ella Evans Ross. She was salutatorian of the LACS Class of 1950 and later received her bachelors degree from Cornell University in 1954. She married Arleigh D. Rice on April 24, 1954 at Lowville United Methodist Church with Rev. Thomas Williams officiating.  After the wedding, she and Arleigh moved overseas to fulfill his military service in Germany. After returning from Germany in 1956, they purchased the family farm and operated as Windloc Farms for 48 years, the last 25 in partnership with their son, Paul. She also taught at LACS and surrounding schools from 1956 to 1962. She was active in many organizations through her early years including 4H, cooperative extension and farm organizations.

She was is survived by five children and their spouses, Sara and James Cronin of Brighton; Paul and Donna Rice of Lowville; John and Maria Rice of Liverpool; Dean and Lori Rice of Johnstown; Andrew and Robin Rice of Canandaigua; a brother, John H. and Anne Ross, Lowville; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dr. L. Paul and Sandy Rice of Saratoga Springs; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Arleigh, who passed in October 2020 and Mark Alan Rice, who passed at birth.

Cynthia was an integral and stable figure on the farm and household allowing family to engage in endeavors off the farm. Besides her children one of her proudest moments was being honored with the New York State Farm Family Award in 1990.

Condolences may be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.