Carmela Campese

Carmela Campese

January 2, 1930 – July 8, 2015

Carmela Campese, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her five children on July 8, 2015, at the age of 85. Carmela was born on January 2, 1930 in Serra San Bruno, Calabria, Italy.

Carmela married the love of her life, Antonio Campese on December 2, 1953. Thirteen months later she made the brave and incredible journey to Canada to be reunited with Antonio, where they would eventually put down roots in B.C. Over the next 10years, her parents and her nine siblings would join her in Nelson. Being the eldest, she selflessly devoted her motherly instincts to help care for her younger siblings while starting her own family.

Carmela cherished time spent with her husband, family and friends. She worked tirelessly to provide her family and loved ones with love, laughter, comfort and amazing food. You could always find Carmela working in the garden or preparing the next meal in the kitchen. She enjoyed nothing more than having you sit down at her table to enjoy her cooking and hear your stories. She had a genuine desire to put others ahead of herself.

Carmela is survived by her loving family, children: Sam (Linda), Joe (Emma), Dolores (Randy), Bruno (Maria) and Margaret (Kelly), her grandchildren, Anthony (Robin), Christopher (Dominik), Jessica (Damiano), Michael (Jennifer), Jordan, Melissa, Eric, Matthew and great-granddaughter Alina. She is also survived by her siblings Frank, Angelo (Gina), Catarina, Assunta, Bruno (Wendy), Cosmo (Palma), Rita (Alfio) and Yolanda (Bob). She is also survived by brother-in-laws Pasquale, Bruno (Vincenzina), sister-in-laws Adalina, and Natalina (Angelo) and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her husband Antonio; infant daughter Assunta; parents Giuseppe and Adoloroata Chirico; brother Sam and sister-in-law Domenica Chirico; parent-in-laws Salvatore and Assunta Campese; brother-in-laws Michele Campese, Francesco Campese, Vito Carchidi; and sister-in-laws Rosaria Chirico and Giuseppina Campese, Maria Zaffino and Dora Timpano.

The family would like to express their extreme gratitude for the amazing love and care our dear mother received. We would especially like to thank Dr. Jeanette Boyd, her home caregivers Cathy Burke and Penny Cummings, as well as Dr. Trevor Janz and the incredible loving staff of The Jubilee Manor.  

A Funeral mass was held at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate on Saturday July 11, 2015 at 10:30 AM under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home. As an expression of sympathy, family and friends may make donations to Alzheimer’s Society Canada or the Canadian Diabetes Association.