Cordelia Reid McCuaig, affectionately known as "Cordy" by her friends and family went to her next great adventure on Wednesday morning, February 12th from The Jack Byrne Center with her devoted daughters by her side.

Cordy was born on September 29th, 1934 in Long Island, New York to Cornelius and Muriel Reid. As if in anticipation of all she wanted to do in life, she came early and not by just a little. She was a proud graduate of Greenvale School, Miss Porter's School, and Briarcliff College. She made friends of all ages everywhere she went and she kept most of them throughout her life. Her family and friends were fiercely important to her. Her primary focus was on her children and grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally (most of the time), supported selflessly and cherished endlessly. But she did not mince words and was very capable of speaking her mind. She was an amazing talent and owned and operated several successful businesses, including Hamilton Gardens and The Hummingbird Boutique. Cordy was an avid artisan beader, a Life Master tournament bridge player, competitive golfer with multiple holes in one, a prolific gamer and puzzler (both of which she passed along to her children), a knitter, needlepointer, a devoted, joyful and talented gardener and farmer who kept bees and egg laying chickens. She loved animals; especially her dogs - and Dandy in particular. She was not an underachiever.

Cordy gracefully challenged the boundaries of the times by having 4 children while managing a household and having businesses simultaneously - all while making it seem fun. Partially out of necessity but always born from a lifelong curiosity, she truly enjoyed all of her endeavors. She created beautiful homes and gardens wherever she was: from Hamilton, Ma. to Vero Beach, Fl. to Locust Valley, N.Y. to the Long Island Club in Eastport, N.Y. and eventually Brownsville, Vt. where she and her husband of 35 years lived for the past two decades. To say "she bloomed where she was planted" is an understatement.

More important than her worldly attributes were her personal ones: she was kind, loving, generous and thoughtful. She had an infectious sense of humor, an innate business sense and a joie de vivre like no other. Cordy sincerely liked and was interested in other people, had boundless joy in her life and was not restricted by a fear of the unknown. She traveled the world with childlike glee. She was courageous and gracious in the face of life's many extreme challenges. Cordy had many affiliations including numerous Garden Clubs, Book Groups, Humane Societies, The Heart Association and churches. She was naturally philanthropic, always willing to help and was rarely idle. She was - in a word - extraordinary.

Cordy is survived by her cherished husband Vic, her son Ren (Jill) Robb, daughters Cordelia (Lee) Robb, Linda (Michael) Boardman, daughter-in-law Elsa (David) Upham, stepson Carl (Mary) McCuaig, Margaret Bouffard (Andre), Wendy Sardonis, Duncan (Nancy) McCuaig, grandchildren Elliott, Phoebe, Lulu, Gabriel, Halley, Colby and Reece, Christy, Liz, Alex, Dylan, Morgan, Taylor and Andre, Jr., her treasured sister Pammy Trippe, sisters-in law Weezie Reid and Edwina Reid. In addition, she was a caring aunt to innumerable nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.

Cordy is predeceased by her beloved son Michael, her parents Cornelius and Muriel Reid, siblings Neil (Edwina), Sis and Pete, John (Weezie), Dick, her sister-in-law Frannie Reid (Neil), and her brother-in-law Charlie Trippe and niece Dinah Reid.

We are so proud of our mother and her accomplishments. Her "sparkly" aura will live on in all those she touched.

Service to be determined at a later date but definitely when the flowers are in bloom.

Kind donations may be sent to The West Windsor Fire Department and The Fast Squad, Lucy McKenzie Humane Society of West Windsor and The Jack Byrne Center.