Susan Cecilia Campbell
Susan Geiger Campbell was surrounded by her family as she died peacefully on Sept. 3rd, 2024. Sue was a loving wife and mother, an inspiring teacher, a lover of theater and one who served others. Proud of her Ohio roots and being raised as one of 5 children on the family farm in Chehalis, Sue stayed connected to her roots.
Susan Cecilia Campbell was born Susan Cecilia Geiger on February 26, 1941 in the home of her parents, Carl and Rosemary (Kovaschitz ) Geiger, at 109 Ann Street in Tiffin, Ohio. Her brothers, Mike and Denny were born in Ohio. In 1948, they moved to Chehalis, WA to build a new home south of the town on Old Highway 99 where they purchased 18 acres of the Yates homestead property. Her brother, Sean, and sister, SallyAnn were born in Chehalis. Sue worked on her family farm, also picking berries and beans at local farms, and doing lots of jobs at Mary McCrank’s Dinner House.
Riding a Greyhound bus, Sue went to St. Mary’s Academy, where she discovered a love of English, History, tap dancing, music, and theatre. She graduated with the class of 1959. While getting her Bachelor’s in Education at Seattle University, Sue worked at various hotel restaurants and hospitals on First Hill and at the Seattle World’s Fair.
After graduating, Sue began her teaching career at Meany Junior High during the tumultuous 1960’s. Sue and her roommates decided to attend plays and this began Sue’s devotion to theater. As a founding subscriber to Seattle Repertory and ACT, and later, a subscriber to 5th Avenue, Sue followed local actors/actresses with enthusiasm and was a loyal donor to the theater arts.
She fell in love with the brilliant John Leone Campbell, Jr at Seattle U, and married him in 1964.
She took time off from teaching in 1970 to raise Jennifer, and a year later, Stephan. While raising her children, Sue ran an in-home daycare and volunteered at Holy Family School’s library. Sue and John discovered that John was ill with Muscular Dystrophy in 1979, and went back to teaching at St. Brendan School in Bothell in 1980. Her 8th grade students enjoyed field trips exploring Mt. St Helen’s and St. Mary’s, creating a class coat of arms, running booths at the annual carnival, reading the class photo albums she designed, and her witty reparte.
As a teacher, Sue worked to reach all her students, and to push them to be better writers and people. Anyone who took a writing class from Sue was immersed in the wonders of our English written language. Many students at St. Brendan say they are better writers and people because of Mrs. Campbell.
“To serve is to love” is a motto easily associated with Sue’s life of service in her various parishes, St. Jude, St. Brendan, and St. Teresa. Not only was she involved in the social fabric of these parishes, she was a Eucharistic Minister, leader, and a lector and on various Councils. For over two decades, Sue would drive hot food to homeless shelters and teen shelters. She loved picking up trash and clothes from the grounds of the Woodinville ball fields every day, and she loved talking in depth daily with the employees at Starbucks, Haggen, and the Post Office. Sue embodied a life of giving, and exemplified Catholic faith-filled living.
Sue filled her life full of the people, activities and places that she was most passionate about, and that enriched all of us lucky enough to be in her sphere.
Sue was preceded in death by her husband John, parents Carl and Rosemary, sister-in-law Laura, and grand nephew Matt.
She is survived by Children Jennifer Campbell- Brown (John Brown), Stephan Campbell (Thida Sorm); Grandchildren Leone Brown, Darrich Sitthivong, and Jammy Sitthivong; Siblings Mike (Mary) Geiger, Denny (Linda) Geiger, Sean (Cat) Geiger, and SallyAnn Geiger; Nieces and nephews Darren Geiger, Darci (Kenneth) Twinning, Shannon (Ed) Pugh, Mark Geiger, Christine (Damon) Johnson, Kyle Geiger (Amber Gonzales), Austin (Nehal) Geiger, Angelique (Geordon) Bean; step grandnephews Mike Farmer and Justin Trodah; Great nieces and nephews David Twinning (Angie), Elizabeth (Gavin) King, Skylar Pugh, Colton Pugh, Jack Geiger, Tate Johnson, Tucker Johnson, Adeline Bean, Kaelie Bean; Step great niece Julie Farmer; Great great nieces and nephews Barrett, Brooklyn, Beckam Twinning, Rowyn King; and Expecting great nieces: Austin & Nehal and Kyle & Amber.
Rosary led by both the St. Brendan Church and Saint Teresa Church Knights of Columbus chapters: Thursday, Oct. 3rd, 10:00am at St Teresa Catholic Church, Woodinville
Mass: Thursday, Oct 3rd, 10:30am at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Woodinville followed by a reception in the parish hall.
Burial will be a private family gathering.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church
17856 NE Woodinville Duvall Rd, Woodinville, WA 98077
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to at 12040 NE 128th Street, MS#5, Kirkland, WA 98034.
Simple Gifts
‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.
‘Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
‘Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we’ll all live together and we’ll all learn to say,
(refrain)
‘Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
‘Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of “me”,
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we’ll all live together with a love that is real.
(refrain)
Tis the gift to be loving, tis the best gift of all
Like a quiet rain it blesses where it falls
And with it we will truly believe
Tis better to give than it is to receive.“Simple Gifts” is a Shaker song written and composed in 1848, generally attributed to Elder Joseph Brackett
from Alfred Shaker Village. It became widely known when Aaron Copland used its melody for the score of
Martha Graham’s ballet, Appalachian Spring, premiered in 1944.
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