Celinda Eldridge
Celinda Lee “Cindy” Eldridge, 76, of Cadillac, Mich., died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
Born in the spring of 1950 on the plains of Montana to Elmer and Georgia (Jelinek) Hamill, she lived in Montana, Minnesota, Indiana and Michigan throughout her life. Wherever her family was, she made a home and built a community.
Her deep faith was the cornerstone of her life. She faithfully served her church as an elder and deacon, while also teaching Sunday school, helping with vacation Bible school and serving on various committees. Her faith brought her great peace in her final days, and she was able to spend precious time with those she loved.
She embraced life with joy, laughter and a healthy competitive spirit. Family gatherings often centered around a table, whether for a meal, a card game or a board game. She loved golf, a passion that began when she met her husband, Van Eldridge, while working on a golf course in high school, and she stayed active in golf leagues and outings until last year. She treasured friendship and fellowship, enjoying women’s groups, book clubs, Bunco, casino trips and Mahjong.
She supported Van through several relocations with JCPenney while raising their family. She operated several home-based businesses before joining KeyBank as a personal banker, where she worked for more than a decade. After moving to Cadillac, she enjoyed semi-retirement, helping with her children’s
