I am missing you more than ever today. So happy that you are at peace.

Hi Ceil we really miss you and remember your funny stories and jokes in the office oftentimes. Rest in peace, you are truly missed. Love you much!

Hi Ceil, we here in the office remember you always and acknowledge today as your anniversary since transitioning. You are missed dearly and we talk about you often. We love and miss you so much,  you made us laugh all the time. We miss the humor you use to bring to the office. Rest in peace and power. Love Yvette

Her journey is completed. 
She is no longer here. 
She will be with us forever. 
All is well.

I first met Ceil at Our Lady if Grace and enjoyed working with her in several ministries. I came to know her more personally during our years in PFI (Pastoral Formation Institute). We have remained friends and I came to appreciate her kind and generous spirit and her amazing faith. Little did I know after our lunch on December 8th that she would so quickly be whisked away from us. I wish you Godspeed, Ceil, and send you on your way with this commendation that I know you loved:
“May songs of the angels welcome you and guide you along your way. May the smiles of the martyrs greet you home where darkness turns into day. Every fear will be undone and death will be no more as songs of the angels lead you home before the face of God”
With love,
Mary Loop

Ceil and I were born cousins but we were more like sisters/friends. 
We had an enormous amount of fun and laughs together over the last 40 years.
We enjoyed our Foxy Lady bowling league in our younger years.
We took our kids to Overlook Beach when they were young. We enjoyed Overlook even more when we were older.  Beach time was our favorite time.  We used to say, " Every day at the beach was like being on vacation. "
Ceil and I  shared a love of the Yankees with our husbands. We were lucky enough to be Season Tickets holders together for a few years.
We spent many hours mall walking, beach walking, track walking and lake walking.
Our time together was always special and we both cherished it.
Ceil will be in my heart forever.

This is how I remember Ceil and Rich as young high school sweethearts.

One sweet person.always smiling and happy..always a pleasure...

One thing that Ceil couldn't help was that she was the oldest. Typical of first borns, Ceil was,..., well, how should I put this? Bossy. She was always right, knew everything, that type of thing. I did much eye rolling when I was with her.

One event that typified this was when she once gave me a broken beach chair to sit in. When I visited Ceil in the summer, we usually made a point to go to the beach. We'd have a great time catching up and also remembering things from long ago. Well this one time, Ceil gave me a broken chair to sit in. Our conversation went something this:
J: This chair doesn't work.
C: Oh, did I give you the broken chair?
J: Looks like it.
C: Just dig it  in the sand.
J: Okay. (Joy takes some time trying to dig the chair in the sand)
J: It still doesn't work.
C: I said dig it in the sand.
J: I did. I doesn't work.
C: Dig it in further.
J: (Joy takes time digging it in further.) It still doesn't work.
C: I said dig it in further.
J: I did. I doesn't work.
C: Try a little more.
J: (Joy tries a little more rolling her eyes as she does so.) It's not working.
C: I said try a little more.
J: (Who has by now lost patience with her dear sister and has perhaps, just perhaps now raised her voice a little.) Ceil! I've tried digging the chair in the sand. It just doesn't work.
C: Oh, here. Give to me. I'll sit in it.
(Joy and Ceil exchange places. Ceil sits in broken chair, and  SPLAT! Well, what do you know. The chair doesn't work. Time for a photo.)
J: Just dig it in a little deeper.
C:  Maybe that won't work.

We laughed and laughed. I think I may have repeated a number of times, "Oh, just dig it in a little deeper." I think that we both never laughed so hard. Broken chair or not, it was a good day at the beach.

(I wrote a poem about this event but at the moment can't find it.)

I wrote this poem last May after Ceil told me that she didn't have the special gifts she thought her other siblings had. No, she didn't have our gifts- she had her own. She had the gift of love, of empathy, of laughter, and joy. 

Sister Ceil’s Sensational

Sister Ceil sensational
Remarkable and brilliant
She’s the best sister I could have
No other have I wanted
 
Sister Ceil is remarkable
At all she undertakes
Contributes to many groups
How does she stay awake?
 
Sister Ceil is athletic
She would have to be
She takes care of her grandson
One day per week times three
 
Sister Ceil is resilient
Her past no cup of tea
But she is a survivor
The kind I want to be
 
Sister Ceil is courageous
She dealt with her past
Now she tries to help others
Hopes that her work will last
 
Sister Ceil is empathetic
And she has many friends
She’s kind and she’s thoughtful
And a listening ear she lends
 
Sister Ceil is the oldest
Of her sister and brothers
Remembers she took care of us
Sometimes like our mother
  
Sister Ceil loves us dearly
Of this we are certain
We hope she see our love for her
Even if we are imperfect
  
Sister Ceil sensational
Remarkable and brilliant
She’s the best sister I could have
No other have I wanted
 
Sister Ceil is loving
Thoughtful and kind
A wonderful sister
I’m glad that she’s mine.
 


To Rich & family,
      Our sincerest condolences on Ceil’s passing. 

Always a family friend,
Winni (McCrann) & Jerry Tucker

Ceil looked just like Grandma Henry. Ceil's daughter, Alison, has a very strong resemblance both to Grandma Henry and to her mom.

So sorry to hear about the passing of Ceil. Alison the Delaney family send their deepest sympathies to all of your family.She was a wonderful person! May she rest in peace.

Ceil was the Card Lady. She sent greeting cards to her friends and relatives, young and old, to brighten their days on their birthdays and many different holidays. The photo shows just a small fraction of the cards that sent to me over the years. I have two favorite in this group.  The first is in the upper left corner. "My name is Janet and my hair is chemically dependent." The second is in the upper right corner. "Urology department. Can you hold?"


Our deepest condolences to Rich, Alison and Sean on the loss of your wife and mom. Cecilia will live in our hearts forever. 

The Mola family



Hi Ceil,  I sent this message to your cell before knowing of your transition so Richard could read it to you.
"Hi Ceil, this is Yvette, just wanted you to know I am praying and thinking of you. I want to thank you for being my big sister in many ways throughout the years. You gave me plentiful advice regarding myself and family issues. Thank you so much for always lending me you ear. You made a difference in my life throughout the years that I have known you. You made me laugh so much!I also want to say God sees all the good you have done for your family and especially for the Women in the various communities through your Women Groups. You have bestowed love, wisdom, sharing and caring for all of them. A teacher, educator, and very reliable, thoughtful and considerate Soul you are!  I would love to see you just to give you a kiss, and a hug my "sweet potatoe pie" as you know, my nickname for you. You are truly sweet Woman with good intentions always. I love you very much I want you to know. God Bless you and keep your faith. God loves you more! You are His Angel...I think He needs you. Love and miss you always to my Beloved Ceily!!! Love and miss  you always...Yvette...

Ceil and I struggled taking this selfie. Each of us kept maneuvering to have our own head further back than the other to look smaller. We laughed and laughed. From my perspective, this may have been the best shot we got.

Cecilia loved much and gave much of herself to those she loved. In so doing she was loved by so very many. Cecilia was my sister. She was the eldest of six siblings. She was the glue that held the family together. I will miss her greatly.


Ceil, you were our loving, wise, fun, inspired spirital leader for 30 years. We all loved you so much. You were such a true friend, always supportive in times of need, always willing to share your home with us on Friday nights, so appreciative of our friendship! Thank you for sharing your life, your insights, your love with us. 
Love, 
Terry Insinga

OBITUARY

Cecilia Campbell

21 October, 1956 – 14 February, 2023

Claude R. Boyd–Spencer Funeral Home

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