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Jennie Champa Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Jennie Champa
deborah A
August 20, 2008
Mrs Champa helped me years ago when my ex-husband left me 10,000 in debt with no heat and four small mouths to feed, the kindness of this lady was amaizing, she not only helped us but listened as I cryed. she has earned her wings many times over watch for her in the stars.
My god bless & watch over you.
Cathy Chrost
August 16, 2008
Jennie Champa was an icon. I was so amazed when Jenny took me into the back room of her office one day and showed me pictures of her early days in real estate. I had no idea how long this woman had been in the business and what a pioneer of women in business she had been. I told her that day that she was forever my mentor. She was the sweetest lady in the world to work with in real estate and I loved her dearly.. I know that you, the family will miss her terribly and my heart goes out to all of you. Please know that your mom was loved and will be missed by so many people who's lives she touched in special ways with her kindness and generosity that you might never even know of....and I hope you find some comfort in knowing that in the days ahead. God bless!
Cory Di Geronimo
August 13, 2008
Gammy
I will always miss you and happy your now with Grampa.
Bonne & Dan Cote
August 12, 2008
To the Family:
Sorry to hear of your Mothers passing. She was a wonderful lady. You will be in our prayers.
Johnny Valera
August 9, 2008
To my Dearest Family. We all know that Aunty Jennie was a wonderful lady and anyone who has met her has their own wonderful memories of her. This passing of Aunty Jennie,will hopefully bring us closer togeather. Aunty Jennie, was the oldest of all of our Aunty's and Uncle's, and had the respect and class of the Cali Family that was second to none and your smiling face will never ever be forgotten. You Faith in God and your many charitable donations will be only two of your many tickets to Heaven.You will now be with Uncle Tony forever( like it or not) in that big casino in the sky where you will always win. When you get comfortable in Heaven, please ask God to watch over this Great Family and friends down here on earth, and to please give us his piece. Thanks for being so wonderful to me, and to all those people you met along you great life. Thanks for your guidance, thanks for cooking for me, and thanks for all your prayers for me when I needed them. I am sorry I didn't tell you these things when we were togeather. Dear God, Please keep an eye on Aunty Jennie, and tell her I said she made a Great Sauce. I'll miss you Aunty Jennie, I Love you, and I'll always remember you smiling. Dear God, thanks for giving me Aunty Jennie.....Johnny Valera....Maui Hawaii
Jon Solovy
August 9, 2008
Jennie and Anthony were my great grandparents, I only met them a couple times, but each time I was mesmerized by their love. They were the sweetest couple I have ever met and always made me realize why family is so important. Love and passion are the best words to describe Great Grandma Jennie! She will be greatly missed and always cherished. God bless and I can see the two of them sitting in heaven together smiling down upon us :-) God bless the rest of the family! With love!
Clint & Jennie Norton
August 8, 2008
To Jennie's children,
We lived upstairs from your mother for over 40 years. She will be dearly missed.
Claire Haase
August 8, 2008
My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.
Marc Champa
August 7, 2008
Hi All,
This was a very tough day, but I've had several requests to post the words I spoke at my grandmother's mass today, so here it is (you better set aside 10-15 minutes!):
Over the past 2 days, I have been trying desperately to think about what I would say today about my Grandmother. This definitely ranks up there as one of the single most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. While it is very easy to come up with a list of things that describe what made her such a special woman – her incredible generosity, her total and complete lack of
selfishness, her unbelievable work ethic and drive to succeed, and, most importantly, her unconditional love for her family and friends – I
realized that going through this list with all of you, who meant so much
to her throughout her life, would only be listing the obvious.
So instead, I thought I would write and share with you a letter directly to her which will clearly describe what an incredible influence she had on her family, her friends, and our community as a whole.
Dear Grammy,
You were my life. Simple as that may sound, I cannot state it any more clearly. Every decision I make was influenced by you – you taught me how to love, you taught me how to work, you taught me how to see the good in everything and everyone, you certainly taught me how to cook, and you taught me the importance of having the Lord in my life.
My very earliest memories are consumed of you. My childhood may not have been perfect, but you certainly did everything in your power to make it as perfect as possible. So long as you were by my side, I never went without.
In fact, you made sure that your husband, your children, your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren never went without. I don’t know how you did it, but you somehow found the strength, the will, and the cash to provide for
everyone and anyone. I recall many times that my cousin Justine and I would raid your jewelry box, then set everything up on your bed like a “yard sale” and sell you back all of
your own jewelry at any price we deemed fit. “No” was simply not a word in your vocabulary – looking back, and for better or for worse, I can’t think of a single time in
my life you told me “no” – if I wanted a new toy, a new living room set, or anything in between, you figured out a way – there was never a question. You would sacrifice any personal need you may have to provide for others.
Looking back, I can’t fathom how you ever stood up against the male-
dominated workforce to make your mark – and once you started, there was no turning back. When you were born, women didn’t even have the right to vote, and at young age of 17, you had the drive and wherewithal to start your own business. You always told me that the businessmen who surrounded
you called you “the thorn between the roses”, clearly threatened by a woman daring to invade the male-dominated workforce. Soon thereafter, you got married and, while you continued to work yourself to the bone, you always
managed to keep your family’s needs your number one priority. I can clearly recall the days of you running back and forth between your office and your home, dressed better than Jackie-O with your high heels, making sure that your family had a home-made meal on the table and enough money in our
pockets to never go without.
Every single Sunday was devoted strictly to family – with the smell of sauce and meatballs permeating half of Water Street, family and friends alike flocked to your home – and you would never turn away a soul – and it was quite common that anyone who entered your home would leave with a pan of more pasta and sauce than the average person could ever eat. Your home
was dubbed “Grand Central Station” because there were so many family and friends who came and broke bread with us, that we spoke about the various “shifts” people took coming over – the tradition was simple – after Church, you headed to Jennie’s. Whether you showed up at 7:00am or 7:00pm, there
was a fresh pot of sauce on the stove and a plate on the table waiting for you…and if by the very rare chance there was none left, rest assured she would jump up to whip up a new batch immediately.
I know that it was these days, being surrounded by your family and friends, were what
you lived for and what you held most dear to your heart – they were for me as well.
The number of people you touched with your love and generosity is
innumerable. Be it hand delivering mounds of Italian cookies to the local businesses, or flat out paying for the insurance premiums for complete and total strangers to avoid them from being cancelled, you always put others above yourself. Your compliments were legendary – no matter what anyone
did, you always found something good in them. I remember you telling me as a child that you could always find something good about even the worse person – and you did. And those who wronged you, you simply forgave.
Your faith in The Lord was like no other. It was rare to see you without a pair of Rosary Beads in your hand, and if they weren’t there, they were certainly not far away. When I was very young, you gave me an icon which has never left my side ever since. I find faith and strength in that icon, and it
will always reflect your presence with me. You spoke of your faith in Jesus daily and, if there was anything that pained you, you put total faith in The Lord to help you work through it. Anyone who entered your home could clearly see how important your faith was to you – between the crosses, icons, pictures, and statues, there was no question that your faith in Jesus
drove your every move – and a day never went by where you didn’t tell me that I was always in your prayers.
Your life was one of celebration – filled with joy that you brought me and everyone around you. You would do everything and anything to take away the pain from those you loved. You rarely shed a tear in front of any of us, because you knew it would bring us pain. You never expressed any personal
discomfort in front of us, because you knew it would bring us pain. When we knew you were hurting, you said you were “perfect”. Even during your last hours, when we knew you were in pain, you never would let on – you mustered up the strength to give the “thumbs up” and reassure us that you were fine. Except I knew you were not fine. I knew you were hurting. And I
knew there was nothing I could do to take that pain away, even though you lived your entire life to make sure we didn’t experience pain, the only thing I could do was sit by your side, and hold your hand. So that’s what I did – and these moments are those I will never, ever forget. Over the last few days, no matter how much pain you were in, you told all of us how much you loved us. Over and over again you held my hand and told me how you “love me a lot”. As the day of your passing grew closer, and the reassurance of love was stated many times over, I will never forget the words you left me with –
“You did a good job” – words that mean more to me than anyone could know. I learned every aspect of my work ethic from you, and while I never feel I work hard enough, I know that the reassurance of a job well done
coming from such a phenomenal entrepreneur, a woman truly ahead of her time, I know I must have done something right.
Grammy, I owe my life to you – and I will never, ever forget all you did for me and those around you. I will see you once again, together with The Lord.
Marlene Woods
August 7, 2008
To Jennie..
Walking in the Sunshine
May you always walk in sunshine
And Gods love around you flow.
For the happiness you gave us,
No one will ever know.
It broke our hearts to loose you,
but you did not go alone.
A part of us went with you,
the day God called you home.
A million times we needed you,
a million times we've cried.
If love could only have saved you, you never would have died.
Jennie was a wonderful person..
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Marlene Woods, Tampa, FL
Christine Van Hillo-Babineau
August 7, 2008
My sincere sympathy to the entire family. Jennie was a pioneer of her time. My thought and prayers are with you.
Scott Welsh
August 6, 2008
Sorry for your loss. Your mother was a nice person. I remember her when my Dad (Bob Welsh) was an insurance adjuster. I also think I insured my first car with her agency.
Joe & Linda Raimon
August 6, 2008
To the Family,
Sorry for the loss of a very sweet women. We lived on Water Street with her for years.
Linda & Raymond Petersen
August 6, 2008
Dear Joyce and family ---please accept our deepest sorrow on the passing of your mom, Jennie. We have fond memories of her and the extended Champa family.
Kerry Nowd
August 6, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of deep sorrow and loss.
Kerry Nowd
David & Vinia DiGeronimo
August 6, 2008
Marc, Tony, Joyce, Dave & Families,
First, I offer my heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your mother. I spoke with a Christian friend of mine who recently lost his father and he said something that really touched my heart. I hope these words touch yours. He said, “You know Dave, we are sad and it really stinks for me and my family but at the same time I am really happy for my Dad, because I know that right now he is with Jesus. There is nothing greater than that and that make me very happy!” We then spoke of a verse in the Bible found in Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I pray that you find your peace knowing that your Grandmother/Mother/Aunt/Friend is now in the kingdom of God receiving her ultimate heavenly reward. Her goodness is reflected in you and will be in your children and your children’s children. She left a legacy of fierce love that she gave to her family and received that love in return.
I will always remember Jennie with a very special fondness. As a young boy I spent many days at the Champa home, enjoying the love of family surroundings. You could always feel the love but with Jennie’s cooking she made sure you could smell it and eat it too! She was a very special woman who will be missed.
Our love to all of you – David and Vinia DiGeronimo
Donald Louis Frigoletto, SR.
August 6, 2008
Tony: Noted the passing of your Mother. Sorry for your loss of a felow Realtor, old friend and successfull Real Estate professional.
Jeannine Girard
August 5, 2008
Dearest Joyce,Tony,David,Justine and Tom; Our sincerst sympathies to you and yours. Jennie was a beautiful soul in all of our lives and she..... I know is in heaven with her beloved Infant of Prague and Tony Sr. showing off her new manicure. Big Hug, from all of us, Jeannine and sons
Marilyn (Leger) Marino
August 5, 2008
Many years ago at St Bernard's in our 6th or 7th grade, I met Jennie and Tony Champa Sr. daughter, Joyce. We instantly became friends. you see, the Champa family was very much like our Leger (DiPrima) family. Our families were true role models we could live our lives like. Raised with these important values: Faith in God, love of family, communuity involvement.
Precious is the llife of Jennie Champa, and her children (Joyce), and her children (Tom and Justine) and these children's children, Jennie and Tony Campa Sr.'s great grandchildren.
50 years has gone by and passed and this friendship circle still exists.
Following in her footsteps, life goes on with cards sent on birthdays and holidays, dinners shared, telephone calls made, summer visits at La Familia gatherings, etc. This was passed on by our families. This is the extended family/friends of Jennie and Tony Champa Sr. Her 92 years of life indeed touched many lives.
I am so very sorry, to my friend of 50 years, Joyce, to hear of your mothers recent passing.
In my heart, I know that she has gone home to be with The Lord, and to join with her dear husband Tony. My heartfelt sympathy to your dear brothers Anthony and David and their families.
Life is good. Cherish the memories.
John & Debbie Terho
August 5, 2008
Our deepest sympathy to the entire family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
DIANE&ANDY DIGERONIMO&MIZE
August 5, 2008
Nature
As a fond mother, when the day is o'er,
Leads by the hand her little child to bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led,
And leave his broken playthings on the floor,
Still gazing at them through the open door,
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which, though more splendid, may not please him more;
So Nature deals with us, and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand
Leads us to rest so gently, that we go
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends the what we know.
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Poetry Foundation
Richard-"Dick" Ryan
August 5, 2008
To the Champa Family: I cannot express how very sorry I am.You have my Sincere Sympathy. I mourn your loss and send you all my love.
gail alario
August 5, 2008
Tony, Joyce, David, & families,
Although many miles separate us at this time, please know you have our sincerest sympathies. Your mother was an extraordinary lady.
Gail & Ralph Alario
JoAnn Dawson
August 5, 2008
To the family of Jennie Champa.. very sorry. She was a wonderful lady that made me feel like one of her own grandchildren when I lived upstairs from her. I have many fond memories of her, will never forget her. Take care. -JoAnn
Adam Candela
August 5, 2008
Our deepest sympathies to the entire family.
Love, Adam and Amy
FRANK AND JODY WALSH
August 5, 2008
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.
FRANK WALSH
August 5, 2008
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.
Cecile Tarbell
August 5, 2008
To the Champa Family,
Sorry for your Loss. Jennie was quite the lady and we will never forget her.
Sincerely,
Cecile And Eddie Tarbell
David Kimmett, Sr.
August 5, 2008
The family of Jennie Champa has my most sincere sympathy and thoughts.
John Valera
August 5, 2008
You will be missed Auntie Jennie
Love Little Johnny Valera
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