Katherine Patricia Campana passed away peacefully at her home on November 26, 2020.
Katherine was born to Ed and Katie Smith in Louisville, Colorado on January 28, 1934. She is survived by her husband of 66 years Frank Campana, three children, Kathleen Lau of Durango, Colorado Brian Campana of McKinney, Texas and Bret Campana of Ottertail, MN, and their respective spouses, 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Katherine’s spent the majority of her work career in schools. Frank and Katherine moved to Durango in 1961 after 5 years in Norwood, Colorado where she worked as a classroom aide and 2nd grade teacher. In Durango she worked at Needham Elementary School as a classroom aide for 8 years and as secretary to the principal for 4 years.She then moved to Riverview Elementary School where she was the secretary to the principal for 6 years prior to her retirement in 1997. She also spent time working in various private sector businesses.
Katherine was passionate about her community serving on multiple boards for the First United Methodist Church, served as president of the League of Women Voters, was elected to the Northeast Durango Water Board as well as the Animas Fire District each for two year terms. In one of her applications she stated her purpose for applying to the board was that it was “time to give back to the community that has been more than ‘giving’ to our family.”
Katherine served on the state committee for School Support Personnel and in 1996 received the Classified Support Personnel Award for the State of Colorado.
Work outside the home was secondary to Katherine who found her greatest joy in helping others, hosting family dinners and gatherings, teaching her grandchildren how to make pasta and “Gram’s Jam”, volunteering at the Methodist Thrift shop, delivering goodies to others, visiting shut-ins, writing cards to everyone she knew for every occasion, making new friends and keeping up with old ones.
She was loved and cherished by many and will be dearly missed. A celebration of life will be scheduled for the summer 2021. Memorial contributions can be made to Shriners Hospital Galveston Texas, Hospice of Mercy, Durango Education Foundation and the First United Methodist Thrift Store.