Obituary of Elthera Campbell

Elthera L. Campbell, a longtime resident of Burlington, MA , passed away peacefully on January 7, 2010, in San Diego, CA with her family at her bedside. She was 89 years old. She was the beloved wife of the late William (Bill) Campbell. She was born in Salem, NJ. She was the oldest of 5 brothers and sisters, grew up on a farm in Bridgeton, NJ, and often told the story of delivering milk, just she and her grandfather early on cold mornings as one of her early memories. She and her husband Bill were married and started their family of 5 children in Boston, MA. They moved to Burlington in 1953 where she was a devoted and beloved wife and mother. She loved large family gatherings when her brothers and sisters, Bill’s brothers and sisters, all the nieces, nephews, and in laws and friends would get together. She endured many loses including the death of her son William, a Vietnam Veteran, in 1967 and her husband’s death in 1971. We learned from the time we were very young that she always had a warm smile, loving devotion, and we could always go to her for anything, but she was also a very strong and determined person, and a great, gentle role model. She was the best listener. She was nonjudgmental, and you could always count on her to show you things in a different perspective. After the death of her husband, she started working at the Burlington Town Hall, which she loved. She worked there until her retirement. I think she knew just about everyone in town at the time through working with Bill on helping start the Burlington Country Club, and starting their own engineering business. She enjoyed working, painting, traveling, spending time with her family, taking classes, working in her garden, and visiting with friends, while taking care of the properties she owned in Burlington almost single handedly. After she retired she moved back to the town where she was raised in New Jersey for a short time and then resettled in California to be near her children. Elthera’s beautiful smile, sense of humor, and always kind spirit will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her children: Elthera (Betty) & Michael Johnson, San Diego, CA; Joan & Paul Scott, Oregon; Alan & Cathy Campbell, West Brookfield, MA; Ruth & Eric Phillippe, Reidsville, NC; grandchildren: Dawn Gasparovic, San Diego, CA; Nina & Tom Moneymaker, Alexandria, VA; Christopher & Ivannia Barto, Brooklyn, NY; Mathew Campbell, Oxford ME; Jenn & Scott Howland, Athol, MA; William Rice, Santa Barbara, CA; great grandchildren: Caroline, Alexandria, Ethan, Michaela, and Brennan; sisters: Miriam Aubry, North Andover, MA; Eleanor & John Rainey, Bridgeton, NJ; Laura Lee, Boston, MA; nieces and nephews: Linda & Mike Bullock, Reginald Aubry, Patrice, Judy, Eloise, Lauren Lee, David Lee, Elaine and Chris Cornick, Hanover, MD; Mason & Ellen Campbell, Everett, MA; Bunny Shed, Brookline, NY; Craig Campbell, Wheaton, MD; Naomi Phillips; and many more family members, great nieces and nephews, cousins, in laws, and friends. She was full of strength, kindheartedness, and an inspiration to us all. Her memory will live on in our hearts. Graveside services will be held at The Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Bedford St., Burlington, MA on Saturday May 8, 2010 at 12:30.