Debra C. Campagna

Debra Campagna, 60, cherished wife of Keith Campagna of Higganum, died February 11th in an automobile accident near her home. A former vice president at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center Foundation, Debra had a long and distinguished career as a development officer, but had become an inspired instructor of yoga and was devoted to her students at studios along the shoreline. Born in Troy, Alabama, Debra was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a lifelong lover of books and the written word. On vacation with her husband in Florida last month, she had just completed a manuscript about her experiences as an emergency medical technician, having qualified as an EMT while fighting an aggressive breast cancer a decade ago. The daughter of Charles Edwin and Dorothy Sellers Howard of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and the beloved sister of Jennifer Murphy of Nashville, Debra had three daughters, whom she adored; Zoe Campagna of New York City; Asia and her husband, Brian Payne of The Woodlands, Texas; and Kesa and her husband, William Pitt of Killingworth. A citizen of the world who loved to travel, Debra was also an adoring and devoted grandmother to Lauren and Charles Pitt, and to Cooper and Reilly Payne. Debra loved to give parties and was famous for her Christmas gatherings, but she also loved quiet times with her family and friends. Her family meant everything to her, and she was deeply proud of her husband's painting and her daughters' many accomplishments. She loved to cook and garden and wrote wonderful short stories, many of which won prizes in literary magazines. She was proud of her education as a yoga instructor and therapist, and worked endlessly to heal the bodies and spirits of her students. Debra leaves a wide circle of nieces, nephews, yoga students and devoted friends to treasure her memory, mourn her passage, and to celebrate the great joy of her companionship. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, February 20th from 1:00 to 4:00pm at XO Yoga, 26 Ferry Road, Chester, for information go to www.xoyoga.com. There will be no calling hours and at the request of Debra's family, donations in her memory may be made to Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, P.O. Box 309, Stockbridge, MA 01262. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.doolittlefuneralservice.com. The Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown is handling the arrangements.