Cynthia Love Ferneaudied on January 29, 2020. She was born in Urbana, Ohio on June 28, 1934 to Margaret Thackery Love and J. Russell Love, the middle child of three daughters. She grew up on the Thackery family farm in the house where her grandfather and mother were born. Her life-long best friends were her sisters Sandy and Ann and like most farmers, she spent a fair bit of time worrying about the weather.

After graduating from Urbana Local High School, she completed a secretarial course at the International Business College, Fort Wayne, IN. In 1956, she left the farm to begin a secretarial career in Washington DC, first on Capitol Hill and later in the West Wing of the White House, that would span three decades.

In 1959, she married H. Robert Ferneau who, like her, was in DC working for Ohio Congressman Clarence J. Brown, Sr. Not only had Bob found a woman with a tremendous work ethic but also a fine cook and baker whose talents he greatly appreciated. Son Philip was born in 1962, followed by Mark in 1967. Bob died in 1990.

Cynthia remained a working mother, juggling a fast-paced, demanding job with cooking, cleaning and caring for her family. To the young men and women in her congressional offices she was a surrogate mom and nurtured them with birthday cakes, sugar cookies, chocolate pies, and lots of hugs. She was a great fan of the DC Capitol Hill softball league and enthusiastically supported her officemates. When son Philip would hit a home run, she would shout "that's my boy" loud enough to be heard in the parking lot. Although years passed and miles separated them, these former officemates, now grown and with children of their own, continued to visit and write Cynthia recalling her as a giving, kind, and thoughtful presence in a workplace that could be stressful and demanding.

From her family of farmers Cynthia learned to work the soil but in DC she turned her talents from soybeans and corn to flowers and had the loveliest azaleas, dogwoods, tulips, geraniums, bluebells, and marigolds. She could grab any empty container and a pair of shears and return from her garden minutes later having created an arrangement you may have found at the most fashionable Washington florist.

She was a gracious hostess who planned bridal and baby showers, housed office interns, and liked a full table at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her mashed potatoes never had a single lump and her crab cakes never had a bit of shell. Her son's father-in-law declared her apple pie the best in the world.

In 1989 Cynthia began working in the West Wing as the Executive Assistant to Vice President Dan Quayle. This fast-paced workplace introduced her to new co-workers and honored visitors who benefitted from her kindness and her baking. President George H.W. Bush was especially fond of her snickerdoodles and sometimes put in a special request.

After devoting 35 years to government service, Cynthia retired in 1993 and, never one to sit still, joined a health club. There she met an interesting group of women who loved going to lunch as much as they enjoyed their aerobics classes. It was during this time that she ecstatically welcomed six grandchildren into her family. She was the perfect grandmother offering support but never unsolicited advice and loved watching her grandkids compete and perform. A soccer goal or blue ribbon was cheered with "that's my girl" and, as before, it was loud enough to turn heads.

In 2010, Cynthia was diagnosed with vascular dementia and in 2014 moved to Wheelock Terrace in Hanover, NH to be near family and to get the social interaction she thrived upon and the support she needed. At Wheelock Terrace, Cynthia made many friends among the staff and the residents and enjoyed weeding the flower gardens and attending the musical programs. Even as her dementia progressed, she was cheerful and greeted visitors and staff with a hearty laugh and big hug. The family thanks the staff of Wheelock Terrace for their service and hopes they know how much she and her family appreciated all they do each day for the residents.

Cynthia is survived by her son Philip and his wife Lisa of Canaan, NH and their daughters Nathalie (New York City) and Meredith (St. Andrews, Scotland) and son Mark and his wife Rachelle and their children Yonatan, Nessia, Ari, and Ellia of North Potomac, MD. She was predeceased by her parents, sisters and husband.

Donations in memory of Cynthia may be made to an organization of your choice that supports the ideals she embodied: her love of children and animals, her belief in a quality education and strong local libraries, her commitment to service, and her wish that no one suffer or go hungry.

To the very end, she was happiest when helping others. Although her career allowed her to travel the world and meet countless famous people, she always thought of herself as a farm girl from Ohio and wished to be buried next to her adored sister Sandy in Urbana. A memorial service will be held in Urbana at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, NH.