Cynthia Brondsema

Confident, funny, and fully engaged, Cynthia "Cindy" Kay Brondsema lived a rich life filled with family, friends, and many good times. Cindy loved passionately and embraced every moment as a gift. Sassy and feisty, Cindy was naturally social; she loved spending time with others, connecting deeply, and being full throttle on everything. Cindy led with her heart in all things, and in doing so, inspired all who were blessed to know her to live wholehearted and full lives, too. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Cindy's legacy of love, courage, laughter, and fun will long live in the hearts of those she so dearly loved.

In 1966, while the Vietnam conflict continued, and racial tensions at home grew, the Rolling Stones sang Under My Thumb, the Beatles longed for Yesterday, and the Supremes reminded us that You Can't Hurry Love. It was a year that found us donning shiny vinyl-infused clothes, and when miniskirts were the rage. Adam West's Batman fought for justice, Star Trek explored new frontiers, and the race to put a man on the moon continued. As the nation set its eyes on a more hopeful future, nowhere was there more to celebrate than in the hearts and home of Ronald and Dessie "Vernell" (Smith) Bloom as they welcomed their daughter Cindy to their family on January 5, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The youngest of the four Bloom children, Cindy grew up in the good company of her older siblings, Ron, Beth, and Peggy, and in her parents' eyes, she could do no wrong. Cindy's father worked as the superintendent of the power plant at the local Michigan Veterans facility, while her mother was a homemaker who later worked as an office manager. Sassy and precocious, Cindy liked to have fun and was active in gymnastics and ice skating. She grew up on the northeast side of Grand Rapids in the Forest Hills area.

Cindy began her education at Orchard View Elementary and was the third generation in her family to attend. As a student at Forest Hills Northern High School, Cindy was very social, a cheerleader, and really embraced all of high school. After graduating with the class of 1984, Cindy worked at City Center downtown, and later went into property management, starting in the office. Cindy began working at Riteway plumbing & heating in 2005 and worked there for the next 20 years as a project administrator until she retired in February 2025. She also became a proud member of NAWIC - National Association of Women in Construction.

For a time, Cindy was married to Tim McCloskey. Though the marriage ended, they were blessed to welcome the precious gift of their three children: Mike, Kelly, and Kerry. A fierce Mama bear, Cindy was equally proud and protective of her children.

Later, at work, Cindy met John Brondsema, who was the father of two children, Johnny and Danielle. The couple developed a friendship that evolved into love, and they married on March 30, 1996, in John's aunt's basement in Belleville, Illinois. John's grandfather was his best man. The happy newlyweds honeymooned with their new blended family, driving back to Grand Rapids. Along the way, they stopped at Holi Domes for the next few nights, where the kids swam in the pools and enjoyed pizza.

Cindy and John purchased their brother's home on Emerald Lake and, over the next couple of decades, made it their own. They put in a pool and often enjoyed entertaining; Cindy was the hostess with the mostest. It wasn't uncommon for Cindy to lose something, blame the kids for it being missing, and, shortly after, giggle that she'd found it again. As protective as Cindy was of her children, she was even more protective of her food. Their house was open to the neighborhood kids, who were always coming and going, so she made sure her favorite food stayed hidden so the kids wouldn't eat it all.

Cindy loved karaoke. Whether at home on her own machine with family or out with friends and family, she liked being behind the mic. She also loved putting on music, taking on a cleaning project, and keeping things spotless. Her favorite tunes were sung by Kid Rock or '90s Country; she thought she was a great singer. Over the last few years, the family started a tradition of kids coming over on Wednesday nights for karaoke, dinner, drinks, and hanging out.

Cindy found joy in almost everything. She enjoyed golfing, crafting, learning the latest trends, and tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. Her sweet tooth preferred dark chocolate, Tootsie Rolls, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and chocolate cake, and her favorite beverages were Michelob Ultra and coffee with Bailey's Irish Cream. Many good times were enjoyed at "The Barn" with her sister and husband, Peggy and Tom, watching football and having drinks. For the last 15 years, Cindy and John owned a seasonal lot at Double RR Ranch near Smyrna, Michigan, where she loved spending time with family and friends during her favorite time of the year, summer. They even held their daughter Danielle's wedding there this summer. In quieter times, Cindy enjoyed reading romance novels, watching crime shows, and sharing snuggles with her golden retriever, Hannah.

Though Cindy was known to scare easily, sometimes just walking into a room frightened her; her confidence and good nature fueled her determination to live life fully and purposely concentrate on its joys. For many years, Cindy began wriote poems for family and close friends' birthdays. It was more of a roast than a poem, and whoever was in "The Gang" was subject to her creative wit and infectious good humor. Without a doubt, her heart's greatest delight was her eight grandchildren, whom she adored.

Over the years, Cindy also enjoyed traveling, making memorable trips to places like California, Colorado, and Virginia Beach. She and John would travel to visit Johnny wherever he was posted in the military, or they would attend business conferences and stay a few extra days to explore. In January of 2025, she took a girls' trip with her mother, sisters, and sister-in-law. They had a great time together, and at the end of the trip, she shared that she hadn't been feeling well and was having some tests done. Sadly, when she arrived home, tests confirmed she had cancer. In the following months, she spent a lot of time in the hospital, but she was determined to soak up all of the life she could in the summer of 2025. Her favorite holiday was July 4, when the whole family gathered together with friends at the Ranch. Tragically, her son Mike died on July 29, 2025.

Though her days with us were far too few, every moment we shared with Cindy is a gift we will long treasure. As we celebrate her beautiful life, may we find comfort in our many cherished memories and in the honor of carrying her legacy forward. In each moment we enthusiastically greet the day, confidently face life's challenges, inspire laughter and good times, gather with loved ones in our favorite places, travel with our beloveds, and relish life's simple joys, we keep Cindy's memory alive and inspiring others as she so inspired each of us.

Cynthia "Cindy" Brondsema, age 59, of Grand Rapids, passed away on December 5, 2025. She was preceded in death by her son, Mike McCloskey; father, Ron Bloom; father-in-law, David Brondsema; and her maternal and paternal grandparents. Cindy is survived by her husband of 29 years, John Brondsema; children, Kelly McCloskey, Kerry Leigh (Austin) James, Danielle (Steve) Moon, Johnny (Ashley) Brondsema, and daughter-in-law Rachel McCloskey; grandchildren, Elijah, Penelope, Connor, Levi, Roman, Isaac, Josephine, and Millie. Also surviving are her mother, Vernell Bloom; mother-in-law, Dianne Brondsema; siblings, Ron (Barb) Bloom, Beth (Steve) Van Slyke, Peggy (Tom) Corpe; sister-in-law, Laurel (Steve) Verburg; and many nieces and nephews. The family will gather on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 1-3 and 5-7, with sharing of memories starting at 7, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave NE. Contributions in her memory may be made to Ele's Place of West Michigan. Celebrate Cindy's life by sharing a favorite story or picture on her dedicated memory page at heritagelifestory.com