Camille was a proud Polish-American. She was born in the coal-mining town of Wilkes Barre, PA to Edward and Helen Bajkowski. When she was 2, Edward moved the family to Camden, NJ where he began working at the shipyards of Philadelphia. Camille attended Catholic grammar school and enjoyed taking ballet and tap dance. She graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Camden. She loved being active and was on the cheerleading squad and basketball team.
After graduating high school, Camille started working at an insurance company in Philadelphia. She enjoyed being social, and while attending a Catholic Club picnic, she met the love of her life, Jack. Two years later, they were married and started off on their journey of making cherished memories together. Jack and Camille lived in an apartment for a short time and soon bought their first home in Barrington, NJ. Their family grew and after their first two daughters were born they needed a bigger home. They moved to Marlton, NJ, and while living there they welcomed another son and a daughter. In 1976, they settled in Mount Laurel, later downsizing to a home they would share with Camille’s mother, Helen.
Camille is remembered for being an excellent housewife and cook. Having four children, and a busy husband, Camille knew the importance of being organized and tidy, as well as stretching a dollar and being pragmatic. She worked hard as a wife, mother, and at her jobs at RCA and ARI. As hard as she worked, she knew how to enjoy herself. She loved watching “Days of Our Lives”, entertainment news shows, she couldn’t pass up watching a classic old movie, shopping on QVC, Disney, and traveling. She found joy in hosting for holidays and getting the perfect gift for a loved one. Her music taste was eclectic as she loved Elvis, the Everly Brothers, 80’s pop, Crooners, Christmas songs, and Broadway musicals - especially South Pacific’s “Some Enchanted Evening”, as it reminded her of when she met her husband.
She was artistic and spent a few years beautifully painting china pieces. Camille had a major sweet tooth – cream doughnuts, caramel creams, licorice, peanut brittle, saltwater taffy, vanilla ice cream, funnel cakes, and Tasty Cakes were her favorites. She would often “force” Tasty Cakes and jelly candies on her grandchildren.
Above all, Camille was brave, loving, and loved her family fiercely. She taught her children what commitment and unconditional love looked like by living those values daily. She was funny at times, but beautiful always. She had a way of making those around her feel important and would remind them of those little things that made them special. Camille was supportive and knew how important the art of peacekeeping was. Her grandchildren were dear to her and babysat them any chance she could.
According to her children: Cherilyn, Camille, John, and Cynthia, and her grandchildren: Rachel, Peter, Noah, Anna, Jackie, Gabriella, Angela, Julia, Mackenzie, Nicholas, and Riley, and last but not least, her great-grandson- Elliot, she was the best Mom and MomMom ever.
A visiting hour for Camille will be held Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at St Charles Borromeo RC Church, 176 Stagecoach road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 176 Stagecoach Road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081. A burial will occur Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at St Joseph's Cemetery, 240 Lower Landing Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bennettfuneral.com for the Bannan family.
