Cynthia Anne Yonally Petroff Hanscom

May 10, 1932 - October 28, 2025
Cynthia "Cindy" Anne Yonally was born on May 10, 1932, in Wilmot, Ohio, to Dewey and Alice (Kreiling) Yonally. The family later moved to North Canton, where Cynthia attended No-Ca-Hi. Known affectionately as "Skip," she was a proud majorette in the school band. She then took her talents to Ohio University. After meeting on a blind date, Cynthia married Nick Petroff in 1952. Nick's career as a football coach took them to Mechanicsburg before they returned home to North Canton with their four children. The Petroff family settled on Portage Street, the same street where Cynthia grew up. When Nick wasn't coaching football or golf at Glenwood High School, he was cooking family dinners — but dessert was always "Cindy Cake."

Cynthia worked at Sears, where she trained staff and even played Santa at the company's Christmas parties. She loved to play bridge and was truly gifted at knitting. With her own "Cindy Sweater" label, every stitch was a stitch of love.

Cindy and Nick shared 27 years of marriage before his passing in 1979. In time, friends encouraged her to meet William "Bill" Hanscom. After many, many, many walks together, Bill swept her off the Portage Street porch, and they were married in 1983, lovingly gaining a new daughter and son. Together, they traveled the country and eventually settled in Whispering Pines, North Carolina. When they weren't golfing or traveling the world, they loved playing gin rummy — and she usually won. Later, they moved back to Ohio — Bill's alma mater, Miami University, calling them home — and made their life at The Knolls of Oxford. Cynthia cherished being closer to their blended family and enjoyed many family vacations, especially the ones she didn't know about!

Cynthia, a breast cancer survivor, was proper, polite, and well-spoken, but she was also spunky, witty, and delightfully ornery. She passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, at the age of 93. She lived a full, loving life, leaving behind a legacy of love and laughter, thanks to her sense of humor.

She is survived by her beloved husband, William Hanscom; daughters Patty (Dan) Gaston and Barb Oaks (Doug Van Nostran), all of Canton, OH; Carol (Mark) George of New Richmond, OH; and Debbie Hanscom Marinaro of Carmel, IN; sons Michael (Pam) Petroff of Watkinsville, GA, and Tom (Lisa) Hanscom of Greensboro, GA; and sister Virginia (Dave) Maharry of Delaware, OH. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Nick Petroff; brother and sister-in-law Dr. James (Doris) Yonally; and son-in-law Mike Marinaro. Cynthia leaves behind a very loving family, including numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends who all agree on one thing — no one was quite like Cindy.

If you see a bluebird, think of Cynthia. We love you more than that.

A private family celebration of life will be held in the spring. The family wishes to thank the staff at The Knolls of Oxford for their love and kindness to Cynthia — she was truly their favorite. She will be laid to rest in North Canton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at give.bcrf.org.

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