Frances Elizabeth Campbell

We want to take this moment to celebrate the life of Frances Elizabeth Campbell, who ended her fight against cancer on November 20, 2023. She was a shining light that burned bright for all who knew her. And if you knew her, you know how far she cast her spark.

Frances, born to Francis and Eva Elsworth on October 14, 1945, was a city girl who made (and remade) a lakeside cottage her home with the love of her life, David James Campbell (predeceased). There, they raised a loving family. But Frances did much more than that.

She was a very creative person who found many ways to express and share this passion. It may have been a customized Christmas stocking or a woolly sweater to keep you warm through winter. It may have been a delightful birthday cake she decorated to look like a Smurf. It may have been a bottle of homemade wine. Or it may have been her flair for making the holidays special, from the many Christmas decorations she filled the house with to her famous annual Halloween dinner.

Everything Frances did, she did with immense love and delight. That included making people laugh with her quick wit or the way she always helped anyone in need. This passion for life endeared her to family, friends, and friends who became chosen family.

Frances had many other loves as well. She enjoyed gardening and was delighted by the blossoming of her lilac bushes each spring. She was a passionate Blue Jays fan—so much so that she made the occasional pilgrimage to cheer them on in Toronto. She enjoyed puzzles of all forms—jigsaw or word find. She found much enjoyment in entertainment ranging from true crime books to HGTV to Star Wars to Coronation Street. She enjoyed time swimming, paddle boating, and relaxing by the lake with a fire. And she always loved Elvis.

Frances shared all this and so much more. And now there are many of us who will carry her light forward in the world. There are her children—Tim, Mark (Elizabeth Sutcliffe), and Heather. There are her grandchildren—Maria and Timmy Campbell. There is her chosen grandchild, Dion and great-grandson Alden Brown. There is her brother, Sam, his wife, Dale, and their children—Heidi, Holly, Derek, Hilary, Hayley. There is her chosen brother & sister Baxter and Doris Crocker. And there are many cousins and cousins-in-law who she always enjoyed spending time with.

All of us love and will always love Frances. For some of us, when we think of her, we will think of the words from the closing theme of Carol Burnett’s show:

I’m so glad we had this time together

Just to have a laugh or sing a song.

Seems we just get started and before you know it

Comes the time we have to say so long

So long, Frances. “We’ll see you…”

A service will be held Tuesday November 28, 2023 at 2:00 pm at St Andrews Anglican Church in Timberlea where many of us will gather to celebrate her life and light. We ask that you please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society to help others continue the fight she boldly waged and ended on her terms.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.JASnowFuneralHome.com for the Campbell family.