Cynthia Lee Ashworth

Cynthia Lee Ashworth, dear wife, sister, daughter, and friend passed away August 5, 2018, due to complications from multiple sclerosis. Cynthia, the oldest of seven children, was born in Norman, Oklahoma on April 15, 1964, to Peter and Kathryn Robbins Ashworth. She grew up in Provo, Utah. Cynthia earned her bachelor’s (1986) and master’s (1990) degrees from BYU, both in English. She went on to earn a second master’s degree (1993) from Iliff School of Theology in Religious Studies. In addition to the brilliant mind of a scholar, Cynthia had the passionate soul of an artist. Her home was filled with music, art, and countless embroidered masterpieces she created over her lifetime…and cats. Always interested in the medieval ages and women’s power to affect history, Cynthia moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 1994 to start work on her PhD in Medieval Studies. Although she finished her coursework, her dissertation was halted by her quickly progressing MS. Cynthia’s mother always said that the PhD wasn’t the real reason she moved to Bloomington. It was there that Cynthia met Thomas Roeger, whose wit and charm swept her off her increasingly unsteady feet. They fell quickly and madly in love and were married a year later, in June 1997, at St. Charles church. Their deep, unwavering devotion carried them through 21 years of marriage and of loving and caring for each other. Although the MS deprived her of achieving her professional and personal dreams, with the support of her devoted husband, Cynthia remained hopeful, patient, yet determined to fight her disease to the end. Preceded in death by her mother, Cynthia is survived by her loving husband, Thomas Roeger; her father, Peter Ashworth; and her six siblings, Kevin Ashworth, Melanie Swenson (Charles), Julia Ashworth, Nathan Ashworth, Emily Allred (Reid), and Jared Ashworth (Kristie).A memorial service for Cynthia will be held Friday, August 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the LDS Chapel at 4235 W 3rd Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47404. The family expresses its love and thanks to the aides, nurses, doctors, and friends who gave such loving care to Cynthia over the years.

Tributes

Cynthia Lee Ashworth

April 15, 1964 - August 5, 2018