Cheryl Bordenkircher

Cheryl Bordenkircher, 69, of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away on Friday, December 23, 2022. She was born in Canton, Ohio on October 9, 1953 to Delma (Woody) and Elizabeth Wood (nee Allan). Cheryl is survived by her beloved husband, Barry Bordenkircher; daughter Stephanie (Andy) Lauer of Canton, OH; stepson, Stephen (Kimberly) Bordenkircher of Dayton, OH; and the great joys in her life and the sparkle in her eyes, her six grandchildren: Elizabeth (Kaipo) Kuamo'o-Garcia, Alexandria Lauer, AJ Lauer, Cooper Lauer, Orion Bordenkircher and Lyra Bordenkircher. Also surviving are her brother, William (Carol) Wood of Louisville OH; her sister, Gwendolyn Graham of Louisville, OH; and niece/nephews Erin, Ty, Zachary and Seth; her lifelong best friend, Pam Ragon of East Canton; her beloved cousins; and a host of other family members and friends.

Cheryl graduated from Canton South High School and got her associate's degree to work as a paralegal. She also worked at Mercy Hospital in Canton before beginning a long career of over 32 years with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in Stark County; she retired from JFS as a supervisor in 2015. Cheryl also worked to get her real estate license and was a successful agent for Cutler Realty in the Canton area, and later for Sibcy-Cline in the greater Cincinnati area. Her greatest joy and passion in her working life was helping people find their dream home, and working in the jobs division at JFS, where she equipped and mentored people through the "Jobs class" to find meaningful, long-term employment.

In 2012 she took on another "career," when she married Barry (an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ) and became a "PW" (pastor's wife). Barry's closest clergy friends and their spouses did their best to clue her in on the life and challenges of becoming a PW…but she jumped in with both feet anyway! Together, she and Barry served four different churches together, where she always tried to be as involved as possible, tirelessly supported her husband's ministry, and always spoke her mind!

There are so many things that come to mind about the kind of person she was. First and foremost was her huge loving heart, her honesty, her fearless loyalty to those she loved, and her unique laugh when her funny bone was tickled. Cheryl could NEVER see or hear a baby's laugh without her face lighting up brightly and breaking out in laughter of her own! Her kindness and compassion for others was special and inspiring. She would try to help others in any way she could, would talk to anyone-in her work life, she was often called on to "talk down" and help those in deep distress. She loved working to make the world a better, safer place, and did so demonstrably with her work at Portage County Habitat for Humanity; and also, even though her own health was becoming an issue, going to Dallas, TX as a Red Cross volunteer doing relief work after Hurricane Harvey. While there, she worked 12 to 16 hour days for two weeks, in two separate shelters, doing everything from serving meals, childcare, set-up, clean-up, and most importantly in her mind, listening with love and support to countless storm survivors who needed to share their stories. You'd have to search far and wide to find a more dedicated mom, grandmother (Nani), wife, co-worker, helpmate or friend. She will be deeply missed by so many.

A memorial service for Cheryl will be held on Monday, January 16th, at 1 pm, with visitation before the service from 11:30 am to 1 pm, at Saint John's United Church of Christ in Newport, Kentucky (415 Park Ave - Newport, KY 41071). For Cheryl's family and friends in northeast Ohio a celebration of her life will take place in mid-May at Atwood Lake.

In loving memory of Cheryl, contributions may be made to Portage County Habitat for Humanity, 6630 Cleveland Road, Ravenna, OH 44266 - ). American Red Cross - Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Chapter, 2111 Dana Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45207 - ; or St. John's United Church of Christ, 415 Park Avenue, Newport, KY. 41071 - .