Eleanor Sheridan "Terry"

Eleanor (Terry) Sheridan passed away peacefully April 5th, 2020 at Portage Pointe nursing facility in Hancock, MI.
She had lived in the upper peninsula of Michigan for the past year and one half. She was born Eleanora Theresa Caminata on August 8, 1927 in Chicago. Both of her parents, Angelo Caminata and Guiseppina Malchiodi, were born in Genoa, Italy and she was intensely proud to be a true Daughter of Italy. She grew up playing stickball in the streets with her 4 brothers where she learned to be afraid of nothing. After graduating from high school, she earned a pilot’s license, joined the Civil Air Patrol and contributed to the war effort by flying. Terry met the love of her life, Michael Sheridan, after moving to Saginaw. They married in 1952 and moved to Merrill, Michigan. Michael and Terry opened a restaurant in that year, Mike’s Grill, which they ran together as a team for 15 years. The restaurant was very successful, serving both good food and functioning as a social destination in Merrill. In addition to helping her husband run the restaurant, they raised 3 children; Michael, Phillip and Daniel. She relished the role of mother and described the years of raising her children as the best years of her life. When her boys became older and involved with motorcycles, she bought a motorcycle too. Michael senior was disabled in 1974 and Terry fearlessly embraced the role of breadwinner for the family. She went to work for General Motors where she held several jobs including a position as an executive chef as well as working at Grey Iron Foundry in Saginaw. Terry loved to spend time near water and bought a small motel on Lake Huron in 1980 near Au Gres, Michigan. Terry retired in 1989, sold her motel in 1994 and enjoyed an active life as a senior. She enjoyed shopping, playing bingo and spending time with her very good friend Josephine, who passed away a few months ago. During this time she also very much enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren; Meghan, Shane and Patrick. Fiercely independent, she lived in her home in Merrill until she was 91. Always up for an adventure, she moved to the upper peninsula to care for her 63 year old son until moving to Portage Pointe in November of 2019. She was very happy there.

A funeral mass will be scheduled later in the summer when the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has lessened.