Cynthia Churchill

Cynthia (Cindy) was the firstborn child of Orville and LaVerda (Haase) Jacobs.  She arrived in Saginaw, MI on - as she stated as a child - “the 12th day of the 12th month AND I’m the 12th grandchild!  12 is my lucky number!”  She was a blond-haired, blue-eyed cutie with a bright smile and precocious mind that delighted everyone who knew her.  She was the oldest of 5 children and was a mentor and ringleader to younger sisters Cathy, Cheryl, and Carol, and brother Paul.

After Kindergarten the family moved to Colorado to be near family and spent one year in Denver on Elm Court, where Cindy would walk a few blocks south to 1st grade at Faith Lutheran before I-70 was constructed, closing 48th Avenue.

The family then moved to Arvada and she spent her school years at Faith Lutheran, Arvada Junior High, and Arvada High School.  Cindy was curious, always learning new things and never slowing down.  She was Mother Hen to her siblings – babysitting, bossing, fussing over, and always including them in adventures and stories.  She would read from the encyclopedia and drill nightly on National Spelling Bee words – culminating in her being the Lutheran School League’s spelling champion and a trip to the State Spelling Bee (not to mention, some 50+ years later she won 1st place in the 2019 Arvada Senior Spelling Bee).  She won a Halloween contest for her ahead-of-her-time Roberta the Robot costume.  She loved photography, was active at church and school clubs, babysat, volunteered as a Candy Striper, and was always at the center of a large group of friends.  A few of her many accomplishments: School Leadership Award at Faith, Student Council offices, National Honor Society President, Class Secretary, Sophomore Homecoming Attendant, and Varsity tennis. She was the sibling trailblazer, the first to navigate the ups and downs of growing and stretching boundaries.  She introduced the family to such exotic things as “quiche” and cream cheese jelly donuts from her French class, and homemade Kahlua.  She had nightly dinner debates with her father on every topic possible.

Cindy spent her freshman year at CSU in Fort Collins.  She loved dorm life but was not finding the classes and career path she wanted.  She transferred to Valparaiso University in Indiana for her sophomore year and decided to pursue social work; her empathy and can-do attitude made it a perfect fit.  The next few years at Valpo were a whirlwind of studying, socializing, working, taking trips to Chicago, the Indiana Dunes, and going south for spring breaks, along with a stint at summer school and an internship in Gary, IN.  Cindy graduated with a B.A. in social work and everlasting friendships.  She was a Kappa Psi Omega sister, served on the school newspaper staff and on the “Better Living Off Campus” board.

After graduation, Cindy and two of the “Valpo Gals” (as she called her best friends from college), Bonnie and Carol, worked through the summer to earn money for the trip of a lifetime, backpacking their way across Europe.  To save the cost of the passage to Ireland, the girls stowed away on a horse lorry that loaded onto a ferry that sailed to Dublin.   After two months in Great Britain, Bonnie and Cindy spent the next two months exploring Europe from Denmark all the way to Italy and Greece.  They had countless adventures, met many new people, and made lifelong friends.  After returning to the States it was time to settle down.  They decided to move to a new city, and what could be more logical than the Twin Cities in the dead of winter?  They remained long enough to realize why it’s called “Minnesnowta” and then headed south to Atlanta, GA.  Cindy worked at Georgia State University in an administrative position and then spent two years in the cable TV industry before returning to Denver.

Cindy was one of the hardest workers on the planet.  She always had a job, and was an asset to every company she set foot in.  To name a few…babysitter, housecleaner, Jolly Rancher candy maker, waitress, upholstery fabric cutter, cable TV salesperson, newspaper ad salesperson, highway flagger, office worker, telephone interviewer, photographer, drycleaner, social worker, business owner. The German Lutheran work ethic ran deep in her blood.  Some of her most significant work was using her degree to help place refugee families with Lutheran Family Services.  For several years Cindy found her calling aiding families who came to Denver from oppressed, war-torn countries all over the globe. She worked hard facilitating housing, clothing, and jobs.  She helped children enroll in school and adjust to a new life.  She comforted them, celebrated their birthdays, connected them with other immigrants and taught basic English.  Her strengths – making people feel welcome and making connections – went above and beyond any job description.  What is Prom and how do I go?  What if I was a national youth team skier in my homeland?  What if I was a doctor at home, but a taxi driver here because I speak fluent French, not English?  You could go to Cindy and she would work it out for you.  Hundreds of lives were changed for the better because she cared and did whatever it took to solve a problem.

Cindy had an acumen for business, and she made the most of this when she wanted a schedule that would work for her and her family.  She contracted out her sales and marketing skills, creating a few companies of her own.  At one point, along with two college friends, she kept chocoholics happy with “Colorado Mud”.  Eventually, she founded “Churchill Estate Sales” and spent 20 years doing what she loved best – bargain hunting and connecting people with one another and the things they needed.  She did the extremely hard work of cleaning, organizing and dispersing people’s lifetime accumulations.  Her reputation for hard work, honesty and integrity garnered rave reviews and kept her business thriving.  Customers loved coming to her sales, often just to see her and soak up some of her sunshine.  She got to know and remembered them all.

Cindy met her husband of 38 years, Mark Churchill, on the tennis courts at Berkeley Park.  They married in 1982, to the initial skepticism but quick acceptance of their Catholic and Lutheran parents.   Their daughter Jacey Laine was born in 1984, and son Warren Lee in 1987.

The newlyweds lived on Stuart Street in North Denver before moving to Arvada in 1987 to raise their family.  Cindy’s family was her primary focus and carried her heart and soul.  Cindy continued to be Mother Hen to her siblings and was a strong link connecting her extended family, beloved by the large Churchill clan as well.

After ultimately settling in Lakewood, Cindy planted a huge garden where she delighted in working whenever she had a free moment.  The garden is natural and free-flowing and beautiful, just like her.

On September 26, 2020, Cindy passed away peacefully with her family holding her hands.  She was at home, looking out at her garden, and listening to her favorite songs.  To the end, she was a blond-haired, blue-eyed cutie with a bright smile and precocious mind that delighted everyone who knew her.

Cindy is survived by her husband Mark, daughter Jacey, and son Warren.  She is also survived by her mother, LaVerda Jacobs (Haase), sisters Cathy Jacobs, Cheryl Jacobs, and Carol (Dean) Kapsalakis, brother Paul (Tricia) Jacobs, nephews Hunter and Tanner, and many in-laws.

A Memorial Service/Celebration of Cindy’s life will be held on Saturday, October 24th at 10:30 am at The Church Ranch Event Center, 10200 Wadsworth Blvd., Westminster, CO 80021. Immediately following the service the family invites all guests to join them for a reception.

All are welcome, but to account for food and accommodations, all guests must RSVP.  Please email CindyChurchillMemorial@gmail.com or visit CindyChurchillMemorial.rsvpify.com as soon as possible to let us know if you will be attending.  For those unable to attend, a virtual memorial will be available with a live feed.  Please email or contact the family for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cindy’s honor to:

Lutheran Family Services

363 S. Harlan St. Ste 200

Lakewood, CO 80226

www.lfsrm.org