Kayla Marie Campbell

1990 - 2024

Kayla Marie Campbell, 33, of Union, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Elkhart on Monday, Nov. 26, 1990, bright and early in the morning to her parents, Jeffery and Erika (Sacro) Campbell.

Kayla is survived by her brother, Jason (who came into this family and spoiled her only child status and perks) and his girlfriend, Samantha Dillion (who Kayla considered a sister);grandparents, Wayne and Carol Campbell; uncles, Steve (Andrea) Sacro and Josh (Jamie) Balyeat; aunts, Michele (Jack) Merrill, Tracy Campbell, cousins, Steven (Molly) Sacro, Eryn (Jimmy) Sacro, Jacob, Jeremy, and Melissa Merrill, Marin and Sydney Balyeat; faithful companions, Wilma and Fred.

Kayla was preceded in death by her grandparents Robert and Carolyn Sacro and an aunt Linda Balyeat.

A celebration of life visitation will take place on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Rosary performed at 6:30p.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. A Mass will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 North Main St., Elkhart, IN 46514, on Friday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. with an hour of visitation prior. In accordance with Kayla's wishes, she kindly requests that no black be worn during her celebration of life. Following the Mass, she will be laid to rest in the Harmony Tower at Rice Cemetery. A lunch will follow at her home. Memorial donations may be given to Fight CRC, 134 Park Central Square No. 210, Springfield, MO 65806, to whom she was a 2025 ambassador or First Descents, 621 Kalamath St., Ste 175, Denver, CO 80204, to which she was able to participate in a white-water kayak trip in 2023.

The family would like to thank all the doctor and nurses who treated her over the years, with special recognition to Dr. Muhammad Saqlain at Memorial Regional Cancer Center and Dr. Sheetal Kircher at Northwestern Medicine. The infusion center at Memorial Hospital became a second home to Kayla over the years and the staff, current and former, were well loved by her.

Kayla was a fiercely independent woman who was always smiling and had a relentless spirit. She grew up on Baldwin Lake in Union, Michigan, where she enjoyed spending time with her family. Her fondest memories she had on the lake was when her father taught her "how to have fun" behind the ski boat. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and driving her Bronco on her travels.

At just 15 years old, she became a People-to-People Student Ambassador where she took a trip to Australia for three weeks and was able to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Kayla later graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor's degree in actuarial sciences. At Ferris, she worked in the provost dean's office which allowed her to receive an internship at Quicken/Rocket Mortgage. There she became a successful mortgage underwriter and was awarded a Rockstar award in 2019.

Kayla's favorite mantra was: anything is possible; nevertheless, she persisted; she believed she could, so she did. Educating others about her battle with CRC was important to her. One of the messages Kayla would like to leave with her family and friends is, "live life to the fullest, travel when able, love your family and friends, and help others with the gifts you were given."