Cynthia L. Ludwick

Cynthia L. Ludwick

September 8, 1946 – March 17, 2024

Cynthia Lorraine Ludwick was born on September 8, 1946, in Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland to Maxine and Russell Smith. She passed to her eternal home on March 17, 2024, 8:45 a.m., at the age of 78, from Parkinson’s disease. 

Cindy graduated from Cathedral High School in Omaha in 1964 and immediately entered college at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). Cindy obtained an undergraduate and masters degree in education from UNO. Cindy taught third grade at Clifton Hill School and King Elementary for a combined total of 35 years, dedicating her life to the community and touching countless lives. Her most enthusiastic student was John Cherry, and she talked about him often in her later years.

Cynthia is survived by her mother-in-law, Lois Jensen Sisson; six children and their spouses: Todd Ludwick (Julie), Christina Haug (Todd), Michelle Norman, Michael Ludwick (Kaylee), Heather Gorsett (Luke), and Ashley Cihacek (Aaron); 27 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Monica Clark, Teri Steinmetz (Mark), and Tanna Hilgenkamp (Cornell); brother-in-law, Tim Clark (Carolyn). Cynthia was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Ludwick; mother, Maxine Dougherty; father, Russell Smith; brother, Robert McAleer; stepfather, Delmar Dougherty; and father-in-law, Tom Ludwick.

Cynthia loved unconditionally. Of all the things Cindy was passionate about, being a mother was her life’s greatest achievement. She loved her children “with all her heart,” as she would say. She also loved others. Whether it was her family, her friends, or even small acquaintances, Cynthia treated everyone with so much care. She expressed her love through giving gifts of all sorts. If it was Christmas, you knew you were getting a cookie tray; if it was Mother’s Day, you knew you were getting a bouquet of flowers. Anything she could do to show she was thinking of you. 

Cynthia loved Jesus Christ. She was a member of Emmaus Bible Church and would often be found reading the Bible or a Christian book or listening to worship music. One of her passions was to pass out Bibles or books, and write letters in hopes others would come to know Jesus. As Cynthia faced the inevitable, she found great comfort from J.C. Ryle’s Steps Towards Heaven, and read it multiple times. Before her death, Cynthia testified that though she had been religious all her life, she was not trusting in anything other than the mercy of God, revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, for her confidence to enter heaven.

Cynthia loved to travel the world and experience life to the fullest. As a young girl, Cindy traveled with her family due to her father’s naval career. He was stationed all over the U.S. and overseas. Cindy carried this love for travel into her relationships with her friends and husband, Tom. Tom and Cindy were world travelers, and enjoyed going on trips with loved ones and friends. From Australia to Alaska and everywhere in between. Cynthia never wanted to forget these special moments in her life and collected tchotchkes to preserve the memories. Everywhere she went, you bet there was a rock or a trinket she held onto dearly. 

Cynthia loved to be goofy. She danced to the beat of her own drum and made up the tune as she went. Her husband, Tom, was usually described as the funny one, but if you were fortunate enough to be in her circle, you were fortunate enough to experience how goofy, loving, and truly beautiful her soul was. 

Cynthia decorated her house the way she planted her flowers; it was so compact and there was no empty space at all. This is the way she loved: with all her heart – there was no empty space at all. 

Please join us this Thursday, March 21 at 10:30a at Emmaus Bible Church to celebrate Cynthia’s life. A Visitation will take place the night before, Wednesday, March 20, from 5-7 p.m. at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler. 

VISITATION: Wednesday, March 20th, 5 to 7 p.m., at West Center Chapel.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, March 21st, 10:30 a.m., at Emmaus Bible Church, 4501 S. 23rd St.

Memorials may be directed to Emmaus Bible Church.

To view a live stream of the Service, go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the homepage.