Dr. Asha Rebecca Dhanarajan, an angel among us, returned to heaven on September 16, 2024, with the infinite love of her husband and family surrounding her.

In all things, Asha led by example. She was a steadfast child of God and follower of Jesus who touched everyone she met. Asha was fiercely intelligent, quick with a joke, endlessly compassionate truly selfless. The hope and love that shone through her will always remain. She will be deeply missed by many, but we take solace in knowing that she is at peace in the arms of our Savior, and that we will be reunited with her once again.

Asha was born on November 9, 1979, in Crystal City, Missouri to Dr. Zachariah and Rani Dhanarajan. Growing up in Tallahassee, FL as the youngest of three children, and only daughter, Asha was a shining light from the day she was born. She was blessed with a childhood filled with life’s simple pleasures, bolstered by the frequent presence of close-knit, extended family and a resolute faith foundation. At Leon High School, Asha established a tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, music, and social endeavors. She graduated as the class president and homecoming queen.

Continuing her life of service and learning, Asha earned a Bachelors of Science from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, followed by a medical degree from University of Florida College of Medicine. She completed her medical residency at the University of Illinois, Chicago and conducted her fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Practicing at Loyola University Medical Center and the Hines VA Center in Maywood, IL, Asha was a beloved physician, educator, mentor, and colleague. For the past several years, she served as the Director of the Oncology Fellowship Program at Loyola. Her concern for the marginalized and disenfranchised also led her to serve in medical missions in multiple countries.

Asha had many interests and pursuits outside of her role as a physician. At the top of this list was spending quality time, laughing and enjoying life’s simple pleasures, with her husband Jon – good food, good music, good and even not so good movies, sports games, concerts, and traveling to new places. She cherished time spent with her family, never missing and often organizing extended family gatherings, and looked forward to time spent with her many close friends.

Asha is survived by her devoted husband, Jon Papajcik who lifted her up particularly in the most trying of times, her loving parents Dr. Zachariah and Rani Dhanarajan, her adoring brothers, Ashok and Arun, her beloved nieces and nephews, Malini, Emma, Ethan, Caleb, and Veda, and a multitude of aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends.

Asha was an accomplished, intelligent and compassionate physician. A dedicated and beloved wife, an affectionate daughter, and a loyal friend. But Asha was first and foremost a child of God and steadfast follower of Jesus. For Asha, living life meant living out the deep love of God in all that she did. And because His love never dies, we know that Asha will never truly be gone. She will continue to inspire us and teach us through the beautiful life she lived and we will carry her in our hearts forever.

Please join us for her memorial service by live stream at https://covenantchicago.org/events/asha-dhanarajan-funeral-service/

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or Breakthrough Urban Ministries.