Camille (Camy) Thompson passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 22, surrounded by her loving family. Camy was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on December 22, 1940, the third child and second daughter of D. Paul and Eleanor Camilletti.
Camy attended Mount de Chantal Academy, a Catholic boarding school taught by semi-cloistered nuns where she became an avid reader of literature which she enjoyed doing the rest of her life. She received her bachelor’s degree majoring in psychology and sociology from Urseline College which merged into Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. It was there she met her husband, Patrick Thompson. They were married for 58 years and had three children, P. J. Thompson (Kristen) and Karen Groenhof (Phil) who live in Holland, MI. Her youngest son, Matthew (Kristina), lives in Melbourne, Florida. She is also survived by her sister, Pente Shepherd of Flowery Branch, GA along with several nieces and nephews.
Camy moved to Holland, Michigan, in 1968 with her family when her husband started a new company, Trans-Matic. She endured some tough times financially during the startup years but was very supportive of her husband’s efforts to build the company. She was an excellent homemaker, cook and mother who was primarily responsible for raising their children while her husband was away on business.
Camy was a member of the Junior Welfare League, a cub scout leader, an active member of Harrington School PTA. She was also a Hospice volunteer, and the Chairperson of the Board of Center for Women in Transition (Resilience).
She enjoyed playing bridge and tennis, but had difficulty playing golf.
For the past twenty-nine years, she lived in Naples, Florida during the winter months where she made many fine friends. She volunteered for committees in her condo building, The Grosvenor, and played bridge in several bridge groups.
In Naples, Florida, Camy, on her own initiative, provided assistance to several of her elderly female friends, particularly on the occasions when they became widows. Camy’s service was a great comfort to those women and their families.
She was a member of the Country Club of Naples and the Club at Pelican Bay. She was also a member of Wuskowhan Players Club and the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland, Michigan.
Camy was a kind, caring and social person. She enjoyed people and they enjoyed knowing her. She was feisty, energetic and fun to be around. She was the “First Lady” at the Precision Metalforming Association, an industry association when her husband was Chairman of the Board.
Camy was a devout practicing Catholic. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales parish in Holland for fifty years. She was an active member of the church study club for almost forty years.
The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all the medical professionals that provided services for her during the past year and especially to those at Spectrum Hospital.
Friends can visit the family at Langeland Sterenberg Funeral Home at 315 East 16
th
Street, Holland, MI on Thursday, September 26 from 4:00-7:00 pm, and one hour at St. Francis de Sales Church before the service. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 27 at 11:00am with Fr. Charlie Brown presiding. A reception celebrating Camy’s life will be held at the Boatwerks Restaurant immediately thereafter.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Resilience (formerly the Center for Women in Transition).
