Cynthia was born in San Diego, California on January 13, 1949. Her father, Lloyd Marvin Christenson was in the Navy and often deployed overseas. Her mother, Dolores Yolanda Albanez Christenson was a devoted Navy wife who managed their home in San Diego. On January 16, 2025, Cynthia was reunited with her parents Lloyd and Dolores.

Cynthia is survived by her husband of 57 years, Frank Mendoza Mills, and her children Frank Mills (Carolyn), James Mills (Celeste), and Leticia Mills; grandchildren, Jamie and Kaia Mills, Rubi, Adelaide, and Lily Mills, Mathias Benenati, and her brother Lloyd Christenson.

When she was thirteen, her family moved to her mother's hometown of Tucson, Arizona. While attending Tucson High School for her freshman year, she met her lifetime love Frank Mills. She later married Frank, and together they raised a family, built their home, and traveled the world.

Cynthia loved people, fashion, sewing, gardening, music, interior design, classic movies, traveling and having fun. She will always be in our memories as a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. We will miss her joyous, radiant personality and bright smile, which was a gift to anyone who shared her company. We love you forever.