Cindy Alberts

Cindy M. Alberts, of Media, PA, born Dec. 12, 1959, in Philadelphia, died Dec. 24, 2016 at Johns Hopkins Hospital of Intemal Sarcoma within the pulmonary artery

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she fought the disease for two brutal years and requested and received radiation to shrink the tumor on the day of her death. She loved her family so completely and wanted to come home to them that she was not willing to stop fighting the disease

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she never gave up. She was and will remain the strength of our family.



Devoted wife of Joseph J Dougherty and lovingly dedicated mother of Kevin and Brian Dougherty, she often stated that 'she found her purpose in life when she became a mother'. As the boys grew, she could always be found attending her sons sporting events or in the kitchen baking cookies and cakes for friends and family. Cindy was so organized and dedicated, that even though raising a family and managing a household, she maintained a Commercial Interior Design practice that she co-owned with her husband. She was the loving daughter of Leonard and Evelyn (Rosen) Alberts; sister of Risa Alberts (Mark Schoenberg); aunt of Liza and Julia Schoenberg, and Scott Alberts. Dear Sister-in-law/aunt and family member of the entire Dougherty clan. Dr. Mark Schoenberg was her champion and guiding light throughout the battle

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you are in our hearts always.



Cindy's early in life passion was dance, and intended to pursue that career at the University of Cincinnati in ballet, until informed she would be required to lose between 10 and 15 pounds on an already slight frame of 105 pounds - she said. 'her fascination with cooking and desire to eat won out'. Cindy was a 1983 graduate of Drexel University (B. S.-Interior Design) and a Principal/Owner of IntraStructure, Inc

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an Interior Architecture/Design and Project Management firm. We always said, 'she had a flair for fashion and a passion for design'. A Memorial Service will be at the family home (915 Truepenny Rd., Media, PA 19063) on February 4, 2017.



In lieu of flowers, please donate to Jody Hooper-Legacy Gift Autopsy Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital http://pathology.jhu.edu/RapidAutopsy/index.cfm or Dr. Gary Schwartz Research Laboratory at Columbia University, 177 Fort Washington Ave, Suite 6GN-435, New York, NY 10032. Johns Hopkins Hospital kept Cindy alive during this ordeal by performing three (3) open heart surgeries within 18 months, to remove the tumors in the Pulmonary Artery and removed a lung in which the tumor took root. For this extra time we will be eternally grateful to Drs. Steve Yang and Duke Cameron. Columbia University provided the hope for a cure through Dr. Gary Schwartz,

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no matter how down Cindy felt through this journey, she always felt the promise of a cure in Gary's office

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we just ran out of time, but the cure will come for others.



Fox Chase Cancer Center managed her disease throughout the fight with cancer. Thank you Drs. Earl King and Stephanie Weis for your kindness and professionalism; when Stephanie performed the 'cyber-knife' on the brain tumor (Cindy's right side was paralyzed), her skilled hands provided the result that was nothing short of a miracle. Earl was her greatest supporter and always brought smiles to her face and cause for hope in defeating the disease.



Cindy lived most of her life in Philadelphia, where she and her young family spent the first fourteen years (1990-2004) of their lives together. Her children were born in Pennsylvania Hospital. When moved to the suburbs, she left the city kicking and screaming, but learned to love her suburban life, and especially the many new friends she made and the community in which she lived. She collected wines, paintings, and a few close friends, and learned to love travel, but remained content to stay within her home surroundings

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she said travel with her husband was so exhausting it required a beach vacation afterwards. Cindy's favorite holiday was Thanksgiving because it was all about the simplicity of family without commercialism, but also loved the festivities of a Dougherty Christmas with Mom-mom and Pop-pop in Mendenhall, PA, celebrating with her extended family. The summers always brought about a week of family fun and activity in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with twenty-eight of her immediate family in-laws; she loved the warmth of the sun on her bare skin. There was always a holiday or birthday to be celebrated and her baked goods were always a highlight of any event. She was loved by all who came into the sphere of her existence, always making you feel special and welcome. She loved her children more than life itself, as they are reminded daily through the wonderful memories that remain with them, although her absence in future life-events will leave a gaping hole never to be filled. She was the kindest, nicest, and prettiest girl I have ever met

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'hers was a life well lived'! We'll miss you always.

Calling Hours:

Saturday, February 4, 2017 1:00 PM