Ms. Catherine Ann Campise

Catherine Ann Campise of Houston, Texas, passed away on Monday, the 31st of May 2010, at home with her family at her bedside after a lengthy battle with cancer. With the dedicated and compassionate Dr. Creighton Edwards by her side, Catherine fought a valiant fight. She now rests with the Lord in peace and comfort, finally free of pain.

Catherine was born on the 8th of June 1948 to the late Leon Joseph Campise and Juanita Seaback Campise. She is survived by her mother, her two sisters and their husbands, Carole and Stephen Pearce of Austin, Texas, and Jeanne and Harvey Harrison of Westlake Village, California; her two brothers, Leon and Jim Campise and his wife, Mary Beth of Dallas, Texas. Catherine is also survived by her adoring nieces and nephews, Jonathan, Taylor and Lauren Pearce, David and Rebecca Harrison, and Kendall, Sophie, Phoebe, Baylee and Landen Campise.

Catherine loved life and lived each day to the fullest. Her passion was for the arts of any kind; music, art, theatre, and poetry. She was an avid reader, had an inquisitive mind and was a marvelous cook. Catherine was a loyal friend and spent much of her life cultivating her friendships. These many friends formed a special bond during the days of the draft and the Vietnam War.

After high school, she attended North Texas State University, but the arts tugged at her heart, and the world at large became her university. Her expeditions included travel to New York and overseas with the off-Broadway production of “Stomp.”

Catherine held a variety of jobs throughout her lifetime, but the one she was most proud of was being the co-owner and founder of the Macrobiotic Center of Houston where she could practice her devotion to healthy living. In the last decade of her life, she was blessed with her dream job as the Executive Assistant to the President of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. With the support of her boss, Joel Bartsch, and the entire staff of the museum, Catherine was able to work and contribute her knowledge and expertise throughout her illness. She loved her job and would rather be at the museum than any other place on this earth.

Our hearts are filled with love and appreciation to Catherine's doctor, nurses, many friends and colleagues for their care and assistance to our family during her illness. Jeanne and Carole want to particularly thank their friends in Austin and Los Angeles for hugging and loving on their families while they cared for their sister.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation from six until eight o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 3rd of June, in the Drawing Room of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service and celebration of Catherine’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 4th of June, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis and Sons.

Immediately following the service, all are invited to join the family for a reception at a venue to be announced.

In lieu of customary remembrances, Catherine would be delighted for donations in her name to be directed to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, at 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, 77030.