Funeral Services For Justin Eldridge—And How You Can Help His Family

Funeral arrangements are in place for Justin Eldridge, the Waterford Marine whose untimely death has touched so many people both locally and nationally.

There will be calling hours for family and friends on Sunday, November 3, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., in Niantic. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 63 Old Norwich Road, in Quaker Hill. He will be buried with full military honors in St. Mary Cemetery in New London following the service.   

Justin leaves behind his wife, Joanna, their four children Vincent, Faith, Nikolai and Diana Eldridge, and Ashten Dorn, his son from his first marriage who lives in Virginia. 

The family is asking that donations in his memory be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KA 6675 or to Toys for Tots, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172.

How You Can Help Justin's Family

It speaks volumes about this family that, even now, Joanna Eldridge remains focused on helping others. On Friday, November 8, for instance, she'll be going ahead with a fundraiser she had planned for Toys For Tots at the Hilton Garden Inn in Groton.

The event will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with local vendors, a bake sale, and face painting and other activities for kids. A donation of an unwrapped new toy will be rewarded with extra raffle tickets. All money raised and toys donated will go directly for distribution in southeastern Connecticut in Justin's honor.  

Joanna Eldridge organized the event but she is also one of the vendors. In June, she launched a home based business called Glamourize Co., through which she and a friend sell jewelry and fashion accessories at affordable prices. Perhaps one of the best ways to show your support would be to help Joanna support her family by getting some holiday shopping done early. You can find out more about her business online at www.facebook.com/goglamorgohome.
 
This isn't a family that typically asks for help but since the news of Justin's death, many people have reached out to Patch and asked if there was a fund set up for donations. In response to that outpouring, a site has been established for people to make donations to assist Justin's children. You will find it online here.  

If you are interested in helping in a more hands-on way, the family's immediate needs are pretty simple. If you have DVDs of movies that the kids can watch (they have none at all), that would be appreciated. Also, Joanna and the kids are in the process of moving. The contents of the family home on Great Neck Road in Waterford have been packed but any help moving the boxes and furniture would be appreciated. If you're able to help, please send an email to Kimberly at krou7@sbcglobal.net.