Cynthia Marion Leclerc

Cynthia Marion Dower Leclerc, passed away on July 17, 2025 at the age of 84. The youngest of four daughters, Cynthia grew up in Canaan, CT. She left her hometown after high school to attend secretarial school in NYC and worked there for a short time before marrying Eugene Leclerc (also from Canaan, CT) on the Biloxi Air Force Base. Both their children were born there. The family relocated to Minneapolis in 1969 where she resided for many years, working and raising a family. She eventually divorced and later relocated to Sacramento, CA where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Cynthia was a gentle and artistic person who loved to crochet and cross stitch, read, cook soups and bake muffins and who appreciated the art of letter writing. She enjoyed the theater and art museums. She felt deeply about inequity and injustice; the plight of Indigenous Americans affected her especially.

Cynthia is survived by her two children, Greg Leclerc and Annette Masterson (Wayne), her two grandchildren, Lauren Masterson (Colin Houghton) and Christopher Masterson and three sisters, Helena Bennett, Phyllis Dower and Carol Bernhardt who all knew her by her nickname, “Dee Dee”.

A private gravesite service to honor Cynthia will be held on August 1st. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Joseph’s Indian School (stjo.org) in memory of Cynthia.