Obituary of Helen Marianne Campbell

Campbell, Helen MaryAnn (Née Somers) (December 16, 1916 – October 1, 2015) Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at her home at the Niagara Ina Grafton Gage Village, St. Catharines in her 99th year. Beloved wife of the late David F. Campbell and loving mother of Patti Ott (late Larry), David, Linda Gosling (Alan) and Duncan (Dagne), all of St. Catharines. Much loved Nana of twelve (12) grandchildren (Ricky Gosling (Denise), Steven Gosling (Pavla), Darron Gosling, Kristen Rogers (Paul), Melissa Allen, Glen Campbell (Lisa), Jonathon Ott (Martha), Heather Wood (Tom), Alanda Ogilvie (Mark), Ashleigh Gough (Kevin), Alicia Gosling (Garrett) and Lauryn McMullen (Brad)). Special great-grandmother of twenty (20) great-grandchildren: Joe, Charlie, Noah (Anyse), Bill, Sid, Walker, Jake, Avery, Ben, Sophie, Rowan, Zoe, Mateo, Norah, Draven, Finn, Evan, Olivia, Madison and Ella. Helen is sadly missing the expected arrival of her 21st great grandbaby expected by granddaughter, Lauryn, any day now. Most recently Helen became a great-great grandmother of Edison. Precious sister of ten (10) younger sisters (late Gladys Coté (late Victor), Marge Carter (Chuck), Sal Scully (late Gerry), Phyllis Bodnarchuk (Jerry), late Theresa Conner (late Nev), Jeannie Boutin (Roger), Mary Costain (late Ron), Donna Cote (late Edwin), Ann MacWhirter (Bruce) and Dorothy Sargent (Chuck)) and one brother (Bill Somers (Joan)) and a special aunt to many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband David F. Campbell, pre-deceased also by her beloved parents, Victoria and William Somers, sisters Gladys Coté and Theresa Conner and son-in-law, Larry Ott. Helen was born in Trenton, Nova Scotia as the first child of Victoria and William Somers. Victoria and William gave Helen ten beautiful younger sisters and one vastly outnumbered younger brother. Thus began a very long and full life characterized most notably by Helen’s enduring love of, and devotion to, her spirited and large family. After World War II, Helen married a dashing young naval officer, David Campbell, in 1946. Together they had their 4 children, two girls and two boys, one of each blonde and blue-eyed like Helen and one of each dark haired and brown-eyed like David. Eventually Helen and David moved to Port Colborne, Ontario where they raised their children and built the successful business, D. F. Campbell Marine Electric. After her husband passed away far too young, Helen/Nana showered her attention on her growing brood of grandchildren. With the arrival of her great-grandchildren, Helen became Great Grand Nan or Gran Gran (depending on her whim at the time of the new arrival) and made each and every grandchild and great grandchild feel most special and loved. She very recently became a Great-Great Grandmother this past summer. Despite her many years, Helen always said that she wanted still even more time to get to see her great-grandchildren grow up and share their life milestones and successes.This was perhaps one of her secrets of longevity. Over the years as the Somers sisters and brother grew up and had families of their own, a beautiful tradition of the Somers Reunion was created in 1965. Every three (3) years since then for the past 50 years, the Somers family and its multi-generations gathered together in different host locations to spend time together as a family. After several coronations of Somers Queens over the years, Helen was crowned the permanent “Queen of the Somers Family” and was very proud of this honour. Despite failing health, Helen was still able to see many of her family members (aka subjects) this past summer at the most recent one, which was very special to all. Helen loved conversation and shared her great sense of humour and wit through such even in her final days, flashing her lovely blue eyes and a beautiful smile. Helen will be greatly missed by her large and loving family and will always be the “Queen” of our hearts. Thank you for so many precious memories Mom/Nana/Great Grand Nan/Gran Gran. We all now have a new guardian angel who will be very busy watching over all of us. Thank you so much to the wonderful and loving nursing and support staff at the Long-Term Care Unit of Ina Grafton Gage Village and Dr. Belgasem from whom Helen received such loving and attentive care over the past year. We are most grateful also for your kindness to our family throughout Helen’s recent final days. There will be a visitation for Helen to be held at the George Darte Funeral Home located at 585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines on Wednesday, October 7th, 2015 from 7-9 pm. A funeral mass in celebration of Helen will be held at St. Alfred Catholic Church located at 272 Vine Street, St. Catharines on Thursday, October 8th, 2015 at 11:00 am. Inurnment will follow at Mount St. Joseph Cemetery in Port Colborne at 2 pm for those who wish to join. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.