Obituary
Long time resident Leona Belle Campanella passed away on November 24, 2025, in Damascus, Oregon. For the past several years her daughter Caron had placed her mother, Leona, under the loving care of Beftu and the staff at their compassionate facility in Damascus.
Leona was born to Earl and Lulu Lynch on December 23, 1930, in Oregon City; she was the oldest in her family with three sisters and one brother. The family moved around a great deal when she was very young. Leona started her education in Seaside, Oregon, but moved to Estacada when she was in the third grade. When she was in Junior High, she excelled in both volleyball and softball. She graduated from Estacada Junior High in 1945. It was there in high school where Leona met Fred Campanella and it was love at first sight for both of them. The couple married on June 7, 1947. After their marriage the couple moved to Astoria for a short while, before returning to Estacada where Fred worked in his father’s market. Leona and Fred later owned that market and ran a very successful business there for many years!
Leona and Fred welcomed their first son, John into the family and he was followed by eight more births. Leona was a joyful, loving and caring mother who invested her life into her children. Leona had her hands full as she watched over all the children, but somehow, she managed to participate in many local activities. Then was selected as Estacada's "Mother of the Year" in 1956! She was active in the local P.T.A. and made certain that all of her children attended Elsie Hale's kindergarten. All eight of her living children graduated from Estacada High School. The children's school activities were always a priority to Leona which kept her very busy. But she also had her social activities also included bowling, where she had several 300 games! She participated in the Rebecca's, Eastern Star, and she served as a chaperone for Job's Daughters for many years. In addition to all those activities, Leona served with the Estacada Garden Club and Women on Mission at Clackamas Valley Baptist Church. It would be an understatement to say Leona lived a busy and productive life.
Leona's first love was quilting. In addition, she also knitted and sewed. She helped all her daughters sew their wedding dresses and made quilts for all the grandchildren when they graduated from high school!
Somehow in Leona's busy life she also started a bakery in her home specializing in filling orders for beautifully decorated wedding cakes, anniversary cakes, and birthday cakes. Amidst all of those busy activities in which Leona was involved she still managed to take hot meals down to the family at the market every day! On the home front, Leona loved her flowers and plants. She was always offering those that came by a start if they wanted one for their own place. Leona loved the outdoors! Back in 1967 she and Fred bought the farm just outside Estacada on Eagle Creek. Leona and the children spent many an hour at the farm slopping the hogs and enjoying the woods up on the hill. The farm she loves so much with all its memories was finally sold in 2005, and that was a sad day for her. Another sad day came in Leona's life when Fred, her lover and husband passed away in 2018. But she carried on with life, being loved and cared for by her daughter Caron and son Ben.
It was 2024 when Leona moved over to Damascus. The family wants to thank the ladies who took care of Leona. Beftu, Mary and Royal cared for her like she was their own Mother. The family is also grateful for the Christie Hospice Team who walked alongside Biftu and the family in helping comfort and keep Leona going.
Leona Belle Campanella is survived by her four sons: John, Hank, Frank, Ben, and by her four daughters: Marie Torgerson, Caron Sparks, Becky Sagar and Lauri Bailey, by twenty-eight grandchildren, fifty-four great grandchildren and thirteen great, great grandchildren. Leona was preceded in death by her husband Fred Campanella, by her son Christopher, and her parents Earl and Lulu Lynch.