Cynthia Westergaard

WESTERGAARD (Lannes), Cynthia Ann

Cynthia Ann Lannes Westergaard, 89, of Atlanta, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025 of respiratory complications. Cynthia was predeceased by her husband, Lynn Richard Westergaard; her sister, Lynn Lannes Parks; and her parents, William and Martha (LeGuluche) Lannes.

Cynthia was born March 4, 1936, in New Orleans, where her love for fine food and culture took root and her heart remained deeply planted. Her family moved to Chattanooga, TN, in 1950, where she attended Girls' Preparatory School. She went on to graduate with a degree in art education from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she met her husband, Lynn. She moved from Knoxville to Atlanta with her young family in 1961.

A gifted cook who graced the nightly family table with five-star meals, she was also a dining connoisseur who appreciated cuisines ranging from The Varsity in Atlanta to Maxime's in Paris. A natural leader, she combined her love for art and beauty with her organizational skills through her work at the High Museum of Art and the Paul B. Raulet showroom at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. Her enthusiasm for the Olympics sparked a commitment to volunteering, first with the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Committee and the Summer Games, then for many years with the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Travel was a passion she shared with her family, roaming the globe from Pawleys Island, SC, to the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China and beyond. Cynthia was also an avid reader and supporter of her local public library.

Cynthia leaves behind a wealth of dear friends, including her beloved 'Bridge Club', as well as an enduring legacy of family enriched beyond measure by her love and care: her son, William Mark Westergaard (Sarah) of Bozeman, MT; daughters, Karen Westergaard Deans (Bob) of Bethesda, MD, and Julie Westergaard Audibert (Philippe) of Atlanta; six grandchildren: Jacob Westergaard; Emily, Robby and Maisy Deans; Manon and Sophie Audibert; three great-grandchildren: Shiloh Deans, Casey Deans and Raphaëlle Audibert-Swilley; and nephew, John Parks of West Linn, OR.

Close friends and family will gather at a future date to honor Cynthia's life and all she brought to those whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Anne's Terrace, saintannesterrace.org, or at 3100 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta, Ga., 30327.