Eleanor “Ellie” J. Campbell

PORTLAND – Eleanor “Ellie” J. Campbell passed away suddenly on March 8, 2023. She was born in Portland on Sept. 11, 1965 to Margaret J. King and Joseph A. Campbell.

Ellie started at Woodford’s School in the early beginnings of the school when it was located in the basement of Woodford’s church. Ellie loved her time at Woodford’s. She graduated in 1986 and began at the Spurwink Day program, leaving there in 2010.

Family was important to Ellie, in addition to her immediate family, Ellie had 22 aunts and uncles and 38 cousins, plus their spouses, children and grandchildren. She was named after her aunt Eleanor, and always referred to her aunt by her aunt’s last name to make sure there was no confusion. Although Ellie attended all of the family parties, she preferred to sit away from everyone and people watch. As she aged, she began to not want to attend them, but she always needed a list of who was there. Ellie and her Mom were a dynamic duo and were known by many people. When Mom entered the hospital and later passed, Ellie would never live in her childhood home again, and for someone who did not like change, she adapted remarkably well.

As a child, Ellie loved to go swimming at her aunt’s and uncle’s camp. She created her own rule to begin swimming Memorial weekend and stop swimming Labor Day weekend, no matter the weather or temperature. Ellie’s favorite things to do were to go for a drive, go shopping and go to Cumberland Farms or 7-Eleven for a big gulp. Although she was supposed to only have diet soda, she would quickly move her cup and get a shot of regular soda. While shopping, Ellie would often see something out of place and put it where it was supposed to be. She loved bags and would shop at particular stores based on what type of bag she could get.

Ellie never drove a car, but she knew how to get to places, and even being non-verbal, she would clearly indicate to you if you went in the wrong direction. Ellie loved to read the newspaper and started at a very early age. She would go through the coupon section and make an envelope for someone with coupons in it. No one would ever know what they would receive and what she was really trying to tell them with her coupon choices, including hair coloring coupons.

Ellie was loved and will be extremely missed by her sister, Susan Mercier and her husband Richard of Portland, brother, Joseph Campbell of Portland, brother, Timothy Campbell and his wife Faith of Bristol, Conn.; nieces Elise Mercier and fiancée Will Flores of Alexandria, Va., Sara Wilson and husband Scott Wilson of Lyle, Wash.; great-nephews Easton and Ender Wilson (and soon-to-be-baby Wilson); her adoring aunts Mary Bouchard, Pat Campbell, Theresa Bowler and Bette King, her uncle, Leo Campbell; and the numerous cousins, their spouses, their children and their grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the amazing nurses at MMC for the care and compassion for not just Ellie, but also the rest of the family. The family would also like to express their deep gratitude for the staff at Residential Resources who have supported Ellie throughout the almost 17 years she has lived on her own.

Visiting hours celebrating Ellie’s life will be held on Sunday, March 12 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A funeral service will be held at the Chapel on Monday, March 13 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. To view Ellie’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to an organization of your choice, or the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org