Cynthia Rates

Cynthia Rates, 50, of Brownsville, PA passed away in her sleep on Sunday morning.

Miss Rates earned a Bachelors and Masters degree from California University of Pennsylvania as well as her earlier beauty school training and was regularly employed as a school teacher in addition to working as a hairdresser in her spare time.

She is survived by her only son Thomas Jerrod Rates, also of Brownsville, two siblings, two nieces and an uncle. In the last years of her life, she lived with and took care of her now 91 year old uncle Lewis Libertini, of High Street, in Brownsville, who survives her. Cynthia's sister Kathleen Rowe resides in Brownsville with her husband, Robert William Rowe and their daughter and Cynthia's niece, Brandi Ellen Rates. Miss Rates' brother Charles Anthony Rates resides in Middlefield, Ohio, near his daughter and Cynthia's niece Colette Germek who lives with her husband Jeff Germek and their son Cameron Germek in Chardon, Ohio.

Cynthia was an avid snowboarder, runner, writer and reader. She loved to travel and loved the beach, loved and kept a cat and a dog as pets and was deeply involved in spirituality. Miss Rates was a member of St. Peter's church in town and belonged to several local and Pittsburgh spiritual organizations. Miss Rates had fought a battle with cancer in the mid-2000s and though she recovered from that, faced medical ailments requiring surgery and treatment prior to her recent death, from which she never fully recovered.

Friends will be received in the NOVAK FUNERAL HOME 515 Front Street, Brownsville, PA, on Friday, November 13, 2015, from 2-4 and 6-9 PM and Saturday, November 14, 2015 until 10:00 AM the hour service with Rev. Michael Peton officiating.

A Blessing Service will be held on Friday at 6:00 PM in the funeral home with Rev. Father Timothy Kruthaupt offciating.

Interment will follow at LaFayette Memorial Park, Brier Hill, PA.

To sign the online guest book log onto www.novakfuneralhome.net

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