Cynthia Katherine Amsler

Cynthia Katherine Amsler (nèe Ritzie), 63, was welcomed into heaven on August 2, 2021, after a three-year battle with cancer, which she fought with courage and faith. Cindy is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Kevin Amsler; her three daughters and their spouses, Jennifer and Mike Lawhead, Kristen and Brett Palmer, and Kimberly and Rodney Banks; her adoring grandchildren, Tyson (9), Dexter (9), Kylee (8), Teddy (7), Skylar (6), Savannah (2) and Hudson (4 months); her mother Mary Ellen Ritzie; her four siblings and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

She is preceded in death by her loving father, Robert L. Ritzie.

Cindy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and spent several years of her early childhood living in various cities before settling in her hometown of St. Louis when she was in third grade. It was in St. Louis where she and her siblings (Bobby, Linda, Mary and Janet) have their greatest childhood memories of playing school, swimming in the backyard pool, roller skating in their unfinished basement and visiting extended family in Warren, Ohio every summer. Cindy and her family were faithful members of the St. Francis of Assisi parish, where she also attended school until eighth grade, and later attended and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1976. Her high school graduation trip to Disneyworld, and riding “It’s a Small World” countless times, was one of her fondest memories with her friends and twin sister Linda.

She was accepted into Southeast Missouri State University where she met the love of her life, Kevin Amsler, during her freshman year. She always recounted college as one of the most carefree times in her life, laughing at college parties, driving with the windows open and music blaring, making lifelong friends and hosting her siblings in her dorm room. She graduated with a Bachelor of Art degree in elementary education with a minor in special education in 1980.

A few months after graduation, she married Kevin in a beautiful Catholic ceremony at St. Francis of Assisi on the morning of August 2, 1980. The foundation of love, partnership and fun they established on their wedding day flourished over the course of their 41-year marriage. Shortly after their honeymoon in the Bahamas, endearingly remembered as a disaster because of lost luggage and no hot water, they relocated to Arizona to begin their married life. Cindy was a special education teacher for several years and in 1983, became a stay-at-home mom, which came to her naturally and brought her deep fulfillment.

When her daughters Jennifer, Kristen and Kimberly were born, Cindy devoted her entire life to ensuring they had a loving, supportive and happy childhood. She was the first to volunteer in classrooms, host pool parties with endless snacks, watch backstage at dance recitals, organize carpool and show up at every single sports game with a big bag of popcorn. There wasn’t an event or milestone she wasn’t present for in her girls’ lives. As they became teenagers, Cindy was known for helping her daughters sneak out in the middle of the night to teepee friends’ houses, piling everyone in her Suburban for road trips and staying up all night on high school graduation night. More than anything, she celebrated her daughters’ individuality and made sure they never felt alone whenever they faced a new trial, heartache or hardship.

The best thing to ever happen to Cindy was becoming a grandma in 2011. She was known as Mimi to her seven grandchildren who adored and loved her beyond words. She loved them unconditionally, jumping at every chance to be present in their lives from the moment they were born. The greatest part of her week was Mondays, known as “Mimi Days”, where she would take the kids to the movies, splash pad, gymnastics, park or wherever they requested. Mimi Days were filled with chocolate glazed donuts, McDonald’s happy meals, chocolate milk and buttered popcorn. Each of her grandchildren captured a piece of her heart, and she created an unbreakable bond with them that will endure forever, even in heaven.

Cindy’s zest for life was contagious. She loved spending time with family, reading, shopping, watching reality TV and traveling to St. Louis and the beach. One of Cindy’s many talents were her decorating skills. She enthusiastically designed each of her grandchildren’s nurseries, her own home and several of her daughters’ rooms. Her home always looked magical at Christmastime. It was common for her to whip out a tape measurer from her purse and climb on a ladder to hang a picture at the perfect height.

Some of the memories her family will most cherish are how she loved to sing from the top of her lungs, dance until the last song played at weddings, sip on a glass of champagne, manage to always buy the perfect gift and welcome her sons-in-law and daughters’ friends into the family with open arms.

A private service will be held in October at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 4556 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Cindy's name to St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 4556 Telegraph Rd, St. Louis, MO 63129