Zelma A. Campbell

WALLINGFORD - Zelma Alpert "Chickie" Campbell, 77, of Wallingford, died suddenly on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at MidState Hospital in Meriden of a heart attack. Her family and friends were deeply shocked and will miss her terribly.

Zelma was born in New Haven on Oct. 25, 1933, the daughter of Yetta and Leonard Alpert, and had a wonderful childhood with her sisters, Ricki and Toby; her brother, Harold; and many cousins and friends. She graduated from Hillhouse High School in New Haven in 1950. In 1957, she married Gerson Martinez Campbell, a U.S. air force veteran who attended UConn, and they enjoyed life in Storrs. They had two children, Michele and Michael, and later lived in the New Haven area, where they had many happy times with Zelma's close family, and later moved to Ellington.

Zelma loved her work as a legal secretary and real estate paralegal, and made many dear friends over the years working in law offices in New Haven, Hartford and Wethersfield. After Gerson's death in 1994, Zelma moved back to the Wallingford area, where she built a wonderful life in her later years. She had an active and happy retirement, traveling, taking classes at the Wallingford Senior Center, and enjoying the company of family and dear friends. Her annual trip with her sisters, Toby and Ricki, was always an adventure. Together they visited Las Vegas, Graceland, New Orleans, San Francisco, Florida, Germany, and other fabulous destinations. Zelma also enjoyed some wonderful trips with her dear friend, Dorothy Cannata, with whom she shared a tight-knit social circle that could be found most evenings hanging out at the Dunkin Donuts in Wallingford. Most of all, Zelma was a wonderful and loving grandmother and spent lots of time with her grandchildren, who will miss her very much.

She is survived by her daughter, Michele Martinez Campbell, of Hanover, N.H.; her son, Michael Campbell, of Daytona Beach Shores, Fla.; her son-in-law, Jeffrey Boffa; her daughter-in-law, Laura Campbell; her grandchildren, Jack Boffa, William Boffa and Katherine Campbell; her sisters, Ruth Salter, of Wheeling, Ill. and Toby Alpert Spalter, of Hamden; her brothers-in-law, William Spalter and Peter Salter; her sister-in-law, Anita Alpert; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerson Martinez Campbell; and her brother, Harold Alpert.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 5, at 1 p.m., at B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm St., Wallingford, to be followed by a reception at the home of Zelma's sister. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington St., Wallingford, CT 06492.