March 27, 1930 - May 16, 2010

ELKHART -- Patty Jean Campanello, 80, of Elkhart, passed away from natural causes on Sunday evening (May 16, 2010) in Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born on March 27, 1930, in Elkhart, to the late LaVern and DeVere (Hugg) Fritz. On July 30, 1949, she married Gregory A. Campanello in Elkhart. He died on July 24, 1995.

She is survived by daughter Karen (Harry) Palmer of Elkhart; two sons, Gregory F. (Michelle) Campanello of Elkhart and Anthony J. (Renee) Campanello of Goshen. Surviving as well are her 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Patty was a 32-year cancer survivor and also overcame other health-related issues during her life to become a wonderful wife, caring mother and doting grandmother and great-grandmother, always putting God and her family first. She worked side by side with her husband as a co-founder of Greg's Volcano Pizza in 1957 and became secretary/treasurer of Volcano Italian Specialties, Inc. until 1997. But even after she retired, she liked to stop in to visit or help make meatballs.

Patty was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and the Disciples of Mission prayer group. She also worked as a volunteer "Pink Lady" in the mammography department at Elkhart General Hospital, where she was a mentor to many women. Patty was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. She loved to cook, travel, garden and work on ceramics.

Please join with her family and friends as we celebrate her life today (May 19, 2010) from 4 to 8 p.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where a parish vigil service will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St., Elkhart, at 10 a.m. Thursday (May 20, 2010). The Rev. William Sullivan of St. Thomas will officiate with burial to follow in St. Vincent Cemetery.

Her family requests that memorials may be given to United Cancer Services of Elkhart County or St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.