Alice Marie Campbell

Alice Marie ‘Ali’ Campbell (nee Thompson), 67, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 18, 2015. Alice is the beloved wife of John 'JJ' Campbell; devoted mother of Noelle (Gary) Gumm and Noreen (Darin) Cavey; loving grandma of Elyse and AJ Gumm and Ali and Danny Cavey; dear sister of Jimmy (Pam) Thompson; and aunt of Greg (Nicole) Thompson, Jeff Thompson, Katie (Steve) Duckro, Lindsey (Adam) Rowan and Stephanne (Scott) Holmes.

On Friday evening the world lost an amazing, caring and loving woman, mother, grandmother and friend. JJ lost the driving force behind anything of importance he ever accomplished, the love of his life and his very best friend. Noelle and Noreen lost a mom who in her unwavering dedication to being a mother before a friend, wound up being the best of both.

As those people who were fortunate to know her understood, Alice was an exceptional person who liked people. She was always up to a challenge, knew no limits and accepted even fewer as to what she could accomplish. She graduated in three years from St John’s University in 1968, earning Magna cum Laude honors in English and Education. Alice accelerated her education so she could graduate at the same time with “her John.” In doing so, she showed the overwhelming driving force in her life - family.


Alice married John in 1968 in a time of national unrest and upheaval. Joint plans for further Doctoral education were crushed for both of them because of an imminent draft notice and an intractable draft board. The alternate to the draft was John joining the US Air Force, which became a career they navigated together and left 22 years later. Alice considered motherhood to be a holy calling. She chose not to work during the early years of the girls’ lives, convinced that their needs demanded and deserved her full attention. It was during this time that Alice developed and mastered her savings skills through her very own “envelope” system. There were envelopes for everything, even if their existence was known only to Alice. Christmas gifts could be purchased only by using a savings plan, begun the day after the preceding Christmas. Somehow she always stretched the funds and allocated the resources, and did it so well that it was only recently that the girls learned that money had often been tight.

It was during this time that Alice became a DIY Queen. There was very little around the house that Alice did not excel at: she mastered cooking, sewing, entertaining, painting and wallpapering. She was accomplished at drywalling, mudding, and studding out a wall. She put in lights and electric sockets and could sweat a joint like a pro. She loved to do these things with John and was always looking for the next project. In spite of the hard work she enjoyed, her fingernails were always perfect and her make-up never smudged (except for the times she laughed too much at something funny she or John did or said). She especially enjoyed painting and coined the maxim, “The second coat is always easier.” While that bit of advice haunted the girls as they were decorating their first homes, they eventually recognized it as a metaphor about the importance of applying yourself to get the best result… something Alice never failed to do.

As Noelle and Noreen moved through school, Alice always had time to help with homework, the special projects and the turmoil of adolescence. Through all of this, Alice taught us all that however bad things might seem at the moment, “this too shall pass.” It was the basis of her optimism and enthusiasm for life and it was contagious to those around her.

Alice’s life changed significantly more than 10 years ago when, upon leaving Sunday Mass, she was approached by a lady of the parish who asked her, “Can you help us with some shrink wrapping?” It was a change in life that day when Alice was introduced to the world of “BASKET BONANZA.” It became her avocation in life to make the yearly festival booth as profitable as possible for St. John the Evangelist Parish. Through all 12 months of every year, Alice would spend time finding bargains to fill the baskets - often at 90% off list prices. Then starting in June each year she would work seven days a week assembling the baskets for the festival booth. Many nights she would be surrounded by shrink wrap in Favret Hall till 1AM or later. Each year she told everyone “This is my last year,” which was greeted with amused skepticism from her listeners. This year she “quit” so finally that she was shopping the week before her hospitalization. It’s okay to disclose now that Alice was the mysterious “AJSOUP CO.” basket sponsor that so mystified festival goers every year.

She had a special loving relationship with her brother, Jimmy, and his entire family, and her cousins Eddie and Cassie and oh-so-special friends Jim and Joanne. If you were a member of these extended families you were special to her and you got respect and love and her frequent thoughts. Noelle and Noreen married wonderful men, Gary and Darin, whom Alice loved as the sons she never had. She was proud of the choices her girls had made. Alice had unlimited love for all, but a very special amount was reserved for her grandkids - Ali, Elyse, Danny and AJ. They do not live nearby and visits were marked with exhaustion as she tried to maximize time with them. She could not go to any store without finding something at least one of the grandkids “really needed.” Her last weekend before she became ill was spent in St. Petersburg, Florida, surprising Elyse for her First Holy Communion and 9th birthday celebrations. Alice’s faith meant so much to her, and she made it clear there was no way she would miss Elyse’s First Communion. We will always cherish the happy memories and pictures we have of Alice standing next to Elyse at Mass that weekend.

On Thursday, December 10th, Noelle and Noreen traveled from Florida and Texas and arrived at the hospital together within eight hours of being told how ill Alice was. Alice was awake as the girls walked in to join me at her side. Her greeting was simple and moving: “Now I have all I need.” Shortly afterwards Alice slipped into unconsciousness until late the night of the 17th, when she again awakened and could communicate with us.

In Alice's caring way it seemed she saved whatever energy she had for Friday – her last day with us. While her speech was limited, she found the strength to listen and respond to so many dear friends and family in her final hours. She made her desires clear to us and did not waver in her determination. She died as she lived - surrounded by love and returning it many times over.

Visitation will take place at St. John the Evangelist Church, 9080 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester, OH 45069 on Wednesday, December 23 from 9:30 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Alice will be buried at Rose Hill Cemetery immediately following the Mass. We will then be hosting a celebration of Alice’s life from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the Pavilion at St. John the Evangelist Church. All are welcome… Just as Alice would want it.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Campton Mission, C/O St. John the Evangelist Church. The goal of Campton Mission is to provide assistance to those living in a critically impoverished area in Appalachia.   To send a condolence, visit www.muellerfunerals.com.