Talking to friends and neighbors, 71-year-old Cynthia Jean Little seemed like the kind of person you’d strive to become.

Her servant’s heart and strong faith in God and the good in people are coming to light in testimonials online in recent weeks following her murder on May 4 in her Sunland home near Sequim.

St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Sequim hosted a funeral for her on May 11 to standing room only.

“There’s probably not a person in Sunland who didn’t know her,” said sisters Bernie and Maggie Philbin.

Little retired to the Sequim area in 2003 after learning about it from her brother John, the Philbins said.

John was considering two homes, and he took one in Port Ludlow and Little the other on Hurricane Ridge Drive in Sunland.

Little grew up in the Northeast and went to high school at Mount St. Dominic Academy in New Jersey.

After graduating, she entered the Dominican Order to become a nun through Caldwell University, her family members said.

Little’s sister Nancy Little-Reinfeld said she left the ministry around age 28 because she “decided it wasn’t the life for her anymore.”

So Little packed to start a new life for Los Angeles where she attended Loyola Marymount University, and eventually law school, to study international law. However, she never passed the California Bar exam, so she pursued a career as a teacher, family members said.

Little taught math for 30 years in middle and high school in Southern California before moving to Washington and eventually Sequim.

Little-Reinfeld said her sister was married less than a year to a musician, Pat Manago in 1985, until his death from lung cancer.

Open home

Although she retired, Little never slowed for her passions, friends said.

“She was always on the go,” Maggie Philbin said. “We were always trying to tell her to slow down.”

Little was active at St. Joseph’s, a member of Clallam County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates program for abused/neglected foster care children, a substitute teacher at Queen of Angels, a lifeguard at Sunland’s pool, a member of the Newcomer’s Club, and in supporting the lives of friends and neighbors.

One of her wishes, the Philbins said, was to own and operate a bed and breakfast.

“She was just too busy with everything else,” Maggie Philbin said.

Whether it was for get-togethers or for friends-of-friends, Little “opened her heart and her home to anybody,” said Bernie Philbin.

Neighborly love

Little’s life always seemed to be child-centric despite having no children of her own.

Neighbor Tara Johnson said she and her eight children first met Little at Sunland’s pool.

“She immediately came over to greet each one of them,” Johnson said. “It was important to her to learn all of their names and ages. I was shocked when we visited again days later and she remembered their names.”

This January, Johnson’s family moved within the housing community next door to Little and she’d ask the children to do yard work or move furniture.

Johnson said she’d offer to pay them but they’d offer to work for free because “she was just so nice.”

“I know my children are just a few of so many that are better for knowing her,” she said.

Kimberly Needoba of Sunland said she referred to Little as Miss Sunland because of her smile and heart for people.

Little and Needoba’s family often ate dinner together, shared stories and garage sale deals, and she became like an aunt to her son Kaleb, Needoba said.

“My favorite memory will always be the countless conversations we had at the pool and the nights we would bring pizza to the pool’s closing hour,” she said.

Ann Marie Henninger said she met Little at a service in Queen of Angels Catholic Church and they quickly became friends. Little attended family holidays and homeschool band concerts, and had no qualms helping “herd” Henninger’s children for Mass, she said.

“Cynthia may not have had biological children of her own, but she had countless children who grew in her heart, not under it,” Henninger said.

One series of memories that stands out for her is Little’s support for the Henningers when their unborn daughter Gianna was diagnosed in utero with Trisomy 18, or Edwards’ syndrome, in October 2010. She prayed, brought meals, took children on adventures and more.

Henninger remembers when Gianna was born that December, Little came to hold her and “she was clearly impacted by our little one.”

“When Gianna died, Cynthia remained available to us for anything we might need, such as grocery shopping or spending special time with our children,” Henninger said.

“Cynthia made each of us feel cherished and important. It was always a pleasure to see her smiling face and twinkling eyes. What I think I will remember most about Cynthia is her endless generosity and her servant heart.”

Henninger said shortly after her son Jack heard about Little’s death, he said sadly, “She gave me a coupon for seven trips to the river and we still had one left.”

Going forward

The Philbins, who met Little while walking their dogs at the time, said she was always quick to serve but never to talk about her service.

“She just did what she did,” Maggie Philbin said.

“She downplayed everything she did,” Bernie Philbin said.

Needoba said she feels Little would not want others to be fearful after the murder because she emphasized integrity and love in her life and others.

The Philbins agree with the sentiment.

“She had a huge heart,” Bernie Philbin said.

“It didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, sick or healthy. The fact that you were a human being was enough,” Maggie Philbin said.

To memorialize Little, the Philbins are petitioning homeowners to build a bench near Little’s home on Hurricane Drive.

In Sequim, Cynthia Little was active at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, with Clallam County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates program for abused/neglected foster care children, and much more after retiring as a math teacher in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of the Little Family

Neighbors of Cynthia Little say she had a heart for people. She offered her home for friends’ friends and family, yard work for children, and always stayed busy with church and volunteer service. Photo courtesy of the Little Family

Cynthia Little entered the Dominican Order to become a nun through Caldwell University in New Jersey but left the ministry at age 28 to pursue law and eventually a career as a math teacher in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of the Little Family