Ashley Nicole Pedro

It is with great sadness that the loving family of Ashley Nicole (Currence) Pedro announce her passing at the age of 37. For the past three years, she fought a brave and relentless fight against Stage IV Colon Cancer. She will be fondly remembered for her loving ways, loyal friendship, love of adventure, creativity and strong work ethic. Most of all, she was the kindest human on the planet. Ashley's crowning life achievement was the creation of a wonderful blended family with Josh, Alexis and Kolby.
Ashley is survived by her loving husband Josh Pedro and his two children, Kolby and Alexis (Albion, NE). She is also survived by her mother-in-law Jody Pedro as well as her brother – and sister-in-law Joe and Alyson Pedro (all of Oakland, NE). She is the daughter of Lisa Roth (Thomas, WV). Her three siblings include sisters: Amber Fisher and Alexis Carr (Brandon) and younger brother Nicholas. She so loved her niece Aubrey Draper from Virginia and her two nephews, Lincoln and Rhett Carr, from West Virginia. She is also survived by her grandparents Jean & Monty Christo from Mesa, AZ. Ashley was gifted with many human angels in her life, especially her best friend, Sarah, and her mom's special friend, Danny and the entire Rumer family. She had a way with children. Her little friends Emmy, Alana and Wyatt adored her as did her niece and nephews. Ashley is survived by numerous Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Importantly, she also had hundreds of supportive friends from all over the globe.
Ashley was a graduate of WVU Potomac State College earning an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice in the Class of 2022 (Amazingly, her Degree was completed post colon cancer diagnosis) and graduated from Tucker County High School Class of 2005. Born July 30, 1987 in Morgantown, West Virginia, Ashley had a childhood surrounded by a large family and many friends in the beautiful WV Mountains. She was preceded in death by her biological father in 2009.
In 2016, while on vacation, she met Josh Pedro. Ashley soon relocated the 1155 miles from West Virginia to Nebraska. He was the love of her life! They were married July 19, 2019, and they began a loving and active family life as they shared parenting Alexis and Kolby. She said it was the happiest time of her life.
Ashley had an exciting and varied work history. She worked in many areas including criminal justice, EMT volunteer, bank loan administration, child care provider, dispatch for the local sheriff's department, sales, and digital marketing. Hobbies included photography, writing, caring for her wonderful fur-babies (Sansa and Arya), interior design, and travelling. She was an avid Internet user and often shared online photos and life updates with her wide group of family and friends. She was an effective problem solver. She loved supporting small businesses and promoted many of them through her strong grasp of digital marketing. She had such sense of style and looked great in blue jeans or a sexy dress and high heels.
From the date she was diagnosed (February of 2021), winning the Stage IV Colon Cancer War became her most important goal. Her husband Josh stood by her every step of the way. She quickly became schooled in the complicated vocabulary and long lists of medications involved in the fight against this terrible disease. Ashley adapted to her hair loss and looked beautiful in spite of it. She took endless notes every step of the journey. The medical community in her treatment orbit became her dearest friends. The MD Anderson Cancer Center hospital in Texas provided constant supervision as did the Columbus Oncology & Hematology Clinic. She will be forever grateful for the care and compassion shown by all of the medical staff who cared for her.
The past three years, she spent much of her time authoring a book about the long journey through colon cancer treatment. She advocated for early diagnosis. She said she wanted to tell her story so people became aware of the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer. Ashley's symptom was anemia that was ignored for five years. It was discovered when she failed a physical to join the Air National Guard. The recruiter said that a hemoglobin of 8.9 was clearly disqualifying. The undiagnosed tumor continued to grow and spread. The cost of treatment was also very high. By January 2, 2024 their 2024 annual medical deductible had already been met.
Ashley will be remembered for her common-sense approach to life (optimistic and realistic), her bravery and her loving ways. Her family and friends can take comfort in knowing she fought the colon cancer fight with every fiber of her being. She was a strong activist for early diagnosis through the Ducking Your Way to a Cure and the Fight CRC Campaigns. Ashley has also shared her story with Call on Congress the last 2 years (in March) and said it was amazing! She was a fighter in every sense of the word and exhibited the meaning of true grit.
Colon cancer is one of the toughest cancers in existence. In her passing, Ashley wanted to urge everyone to get timely colonoscopies and never forget that many victims do not survive five years post diagnosis. Colorectal cancer can only be identified with regular colonoscopies. Please learn from the fact that if Ashley had received an earlier colonoscopy, we may not be reading this obituary.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to:
FIGHT COLORECTAL CANCER (CRC)
134 Park Central Square #210
Springfield, MO 65806
Website: fightcolorectalcancer.org.
Call: 703-548-1225
or can be directed to the family for future designation in memory of Ashley.
Ashley will be cremated, and a Celebration of Life will take place in Albion, NE and also in West Virginia at a later date. We will miss her loving ways, and we will remember her as spending her final days trying to save others from colorectal cancer.
"How lucky was Ashley to have had that special 'something' that makes saying good bye so damn hard." Anonymous.
Source Website 'Ashley's Story":
https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/story/ashley-pedro/