Cindy Marie Sherman passed away peacefully on October 18, 2020. Born on August 21, 1974 as the third child to Jackie and John Sherman, Cindy was eagerly anticipated by her parents and by her siblings, Kara and Patrick, all of whom were absolutely thrilled to add a baby girl and little sister to the family. Cindy loved keeping up with her older siblings, and she was a most precocious child, seemingly moving from babbling “mama” and “dada” to speaking in complete, grammatically correct sentences within a matter of months. Every bit her mother’s daughter, Cindy loved talking, and she could tell a wonderful story. Even greater than Cindy’s loquaciousness was her love of written words, and five-dollar words were her speciality. If you ever had to consult the dictionary when reading a text message, then surely you had received a text from Cindy. Cindy was a thinker and a wonderer, and she never failed to ask why. She was uncommonly observant, invariably noticing the smallest of details, and her expansive vocabulary allowed her to share her complex thoughts and deepest feelings with precision, oftentimes poignantly so.
Cindy’s childhood nickname was Cinder-bird, a silly name her dad made-up that didn’t really mean anything but was just fun to say and somehow managed to stick. Somewhere along the way, the nickname changed to The Bird. No one remembers exactly when or why we abbreviated the moniker, but Cindy embraced it, as she believed she knew both the freedom of soaring and the pain of being caged. Cindy had a special fondness for St. Francis, a fellow bird lover, and Cindy was inspired by the way St. Francis recognized the wonder of God’s creation in these magnificent flying creatures. And, much like the smallest of finches, Cindy was light, delicate, and always elusive.
Cindy also had a devotion to St. Dymphna, of Ireland, a patroness for those suffering with anxiety and depression. Her dedication sustained Cindy during the times she struggled to accept the love, support, and aid of her family and close friends. Although a gentle and empathetic woman, Cindy often found it difficult to afford herself the mercy she graciously extended to others.
Cindy’s Irish roots were strong and alive as she spent countless hours meticulously researching her family’s history. She was able to trace her Sherman roots back five generations to the town of Rathdowney in County Leix, Ireland. She was always on the hunt for a special Irish stamp, pin, or artifact, and she left her family with a wonderful legacy of pictures, charts, and stories from their ancestors.
Cindy was an expert gift-giver, an avid reader, and a lover of poetry. She enjoyed flowers and flower arranging. She wore scarves, stilettos, and vintage concert t-shirts, and she managed to look uniquely stylish even in her favorite ripped Levi’s. She loved politics and Neil Diamond, SNL and hot dogs with mustard, Japanese cat videos and batik fabric. And for Cindy there was nothing better than an ice cold Coca-Cola. In an 7.5-ounce can. With a straw.
Cindy is survived by her father John Francis Sherman and by her sister Kara Elizabeth Gehan, brother-in-law Peter Michael Gehan, and brother Patrick Duncan Sherman. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Ann Frances Gehan, Patrick Michael Gehan, John Charles Gehan, Madeline McKenna Sherman, and William Michael Sherman. She also leaves her mother’s husband Larry Marshall Asbury and Larry’s daughters Katherine Asbury Hardee and Jennifer Christine Asbury. Cindy was predeceased by her mother Jacqueline Duncan Asbury and her cousin Sgt. Kevin J. Lannon. Cindy deeply grieved the loss of her mother, and we are comforted in knowing they are together again.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Cindy will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 2:00 pm at St. Rita Catholic Community (12521 Inwood Road) with Father Joshua Whitfield as our Celebrant. If desired, please consider a memorial donation in Cindy’s name to Ministry Against the Death Penalty at www.sisterhelen.org/donate/ or Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival at poorpeoplescampaign.org, two causes about which Cindy was incredibly passionate.
And Cindy certainly would want us to remind you to vote.
