Cynthia Louise Gulbrandsen

Cynthia Louise Gulbrandsen was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on July 29, 1960 to Robert Smith and Elanor Buckley. She lived in Pitman, New Jersey and graduated from Pitman High School.

Cindy always had a knack for finding adventure, even in her youth with her best friend Holly. One summer in 1978, the two took off for Wildwood with $102 between them, one pair of sneakers to share, and no shortage of optimism. That bold spirit carried her west shortly after graduation, where she married Doug Gulbrandsen in 1985 in Palm Springs. She became a mother to his son, Michael, and together they had three additional children: Thomas, Phillip, and Rachael.

Cindy raised all of her kids with presence, generosity, and an ability to make the mundane playful. Parenthood was a role she took seriously. She made holidays and birthdays feel magical. Her kids’ childhoods were a procession of museums, road trips, parties, and games, filled with laughter and an absurd number of pets: dogs, cats, birds, lizards, and frogs, all loved fiercely.

Her children remember long car rides to Lake Tahoe, usually accompanied by Enya and Seal. She dealt with more than her fair share of car sickness with patience and humor. She taught her children to laugh, to believe in themselves, to set high standards, and to trust that with hard work, anything was possible.

In 1994, Cindy moved to South Lake Tahoe, then Rocklin in 1998, Eagle, Idaho in 2001, and Meridian in 2005, after her separation with Doug.

Professionally, Cindy worked as a dental receptionist and manager and later as a Master Esthetician, building her own skincare and eyelash business, Beauty in Eden. She also taught esthetics in Boise and worked at spas, medical offices, and eventually in Costa Rica, where she continued to share her passion for beauty and skincare.

But Cindy’s real business was connection. She had a way with people—her natural humor, warm and easygoing presence, and the kind of laugh you heard before you saw her. She had a way with gardens too—from lavender in Utah to wild ginger in Central America, she made things bloom wherever she went. To know her was to laugh with her, to be charmed by her, teased by her, and to be reminded that “the little things” weren’t so little at all.

In 2011, Cindy married Rick Hoxer—a love story that began with 300 miles between them and an online dating profile. Their chemistry was tangible to anyone lucky enough to spend time with them.

In 2017, Cindy and Rick set off on a new adventure to retire and build an oasis in Ojochal, Costa Rica, where they became beloved members of a vibrant community of ex-patriots. Cindy lived in the mountains, a short drive from the ocean, surrounded by luscious plants, wildlife, and meaningful friendships, all of which sustained and enriched this chapter of her life.

She returned to Utah in the spring of 2025 to spend time with her children and grandchildren. Her final months were full of memory-making: waking up to the sound of little feet, tea parties in the sun, and hands in the garden. After a courageous battle with breast cancer and complications from chemotherapy, Cindy passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025, one day before her 65th birthday.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Smith and Elanor Buckley. She is survived by her siblings, Sandra, David, Candy, Connie, and Charlie; her friends around the world; her children, Thomas (Kaelyn), Phillip (Katie), and Rachael; her stepchildren, Michael (Sharene), Devon, and Hayden (Lisa); her grandchildren, Annelise, Asher, Eleanor, Emma, and Henry; her step grandchildren, Brielle and Brooklyn; and her husband and partner, Rick.

Please join us in a Celebration of Life at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, August 9, at 980 S. 8800 E., Huntsville, Utah, 84317. This is an outdoor gathering, so please dress colorfully and comfortably for the weather, and bring a memory of Cindy to share.