Cynthia "Cindy" Taaffee, of Farmington Hills, passed unexpectedly into eternal life on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at her home.  She was 66 years old.

Cindy was born in Detroit on August 21, 1959, to the late Leo and Hilda (Narhi) Taaffee.

A proud alumna of the University of Michigan, Cindy earned her Master of Mechanical Engineering degree and went on to build a distinguished career with Ford Motor Company, spanning more than three decades. Throughout her 30-plus years at Ford, Cindy held numerous positions of increasing responsibility, including roles in technical training and development, strategic standards, and as a launch manager on several occasions—both domestically and abroad. Her leadership, precision, and collaborative spirit earned her the admiration of countless colleagues and the respect of all who worked alongside her. Most recently, she continued her passion for innovation by founding her own engineering consulting firm, where she shared her deep technical expertise and mentorship with others in the field.

Cindy lived her life with heart, humor, and purpose. She had an abiding love for animals—especially cats—and was a supporter of the Michigan Animal Rescue League. She proudly cared for numerous feline friends over the years, many of whom had special needs or were feline leukemia positive.

Beyond her professional and charitable endeavors, Cindy had a zest for life that touched everyone she met. She loved traveling, fishing, and crafting, and she found great joy in time spent with friends and community. Deeply faithful, she was active in her church and charitable organizations, always finding ways to give back and uplift others.

Cindy's legacy will live on through the many lives she inspired—both human and animal alike. Her intellect, compassion, and unwavering generosity will be dearly missed and forever remembered by her family, friends, and colleagues.

Cindy is survived by her brother, Thomas (Leslie) Taaffee, and their son, Patrick; Leslie's children, Sara, Brian, and Christine; additional relatives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as well as a host of colleagues and friends.

Visitation for Cindy has been planned for Tuesday, October 28th, from 4-8 pm, at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, downtown Farmington.  Her funeral ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday morning, October 29th, at 10:30 am, also at Heeney-Sundquist.  The Reverend Dr. James McGuire, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Novi, will preside.

Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, immediately following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are kindly suggested to the Michigan Animal Rescue League .