Margaret Jean Campbell

New London - Margaret Jean Campbell, 82, of New London, passed away at Kindred Crossings West, on April 8, 2013, the day before her 83rd birthday, surrounded by her family, and after over a three-year long battle with peritoneal cancer.

Margaret was born on April 9, 1930, the youngest child of Frank and Emily (Cermak) Stepanek in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When she was five years old, she moved with her family to Manhattan, N.Y. She graduated from Julia Richman High School in Manhattan and attended Hunter College, also in Manhattan. She worked as a secretary at Avon corporate headquarters in New York.

After her marriage and moving to Connecticut in the 1950s, she became a U.S. citizen. While raising her family, Margaret worked part-time in real estate and later owned a card and gift shop in Flanders and a leather shop in Uncasville. Most recently, she was in sales at Bob's Discount Furniture in Niantic, working there for 18 years.

While her children were growing up, she was an assistant troop leader with the Brownies and was also a den mother for the Cub Scouts and was involved in the Flanders School PTA. Margaret attended Flanders Baptist Church. She enjoyed baking and especially making special birthday cakes and dinners for her children and grandchildren. She cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren, taking them out for lunch on Tuesdays before they started school and later to dinner on Thursday evenings and spending time with them afterwards. She enjoyed collecting cookbooks and making silk floral arrangements.

She is survived by a daughter, Sharon D. Vymola of New London; a son, Greg W. Vymola of East Lyme; her daughter-in-law, Katrina Vymola of Niantic; grandchildren Baylen and Kaylene Vymola of East Lyme; and her special cat, Sabrina.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Frank, Stanley and Burt Stepanek; a sister, Emily Phillips; and by her former husband and father of her children, William H. Vymola.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Andrew Putnam and Dr. Alessandro Santin of Smilow Cancer Hospital, the nurses and staff of Smilow Women's Infusion, and the nurses and PCAs on North Pavilion 14 for the care and compassion she received during her surgery, treatments, and hospitalizations over the past three years. A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Kindred Crossings West and to Dr. Glendo Tangarorang and Lisa Stemm, APRN for the compassionate care she received during her last few months of life. Special thanks to Robert Dawley, Denise Cote, and Heather Hayden of Bob's Discount Furniture, and Roseanne Sinagra, formerly of Bob's for their understanding and helpfulness during her illness. Thank you to her co-workers for their encouragement, concern, and prayers over the past three years.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. Interment will follow in East Lyme Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1710, NY, NY 10122.