Tribute to Peggy Coffey Campbell

Peggy Campbell with Angela Docherty from New Ways & child in Turkana

Margaret Harvey gave the following tribute at a memorial service for Peggy Campbell at Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town, north London on Friday, 4 May 2012.

Peggy Coffey Campbell

Born in Ireland 1932. Died on the 26th April 2012 in her 80th year.

All of you here this evening have known Peggy and will have your own stories and memories of her.

My first memory of many years ago, was that of a gentle, smiling lady whom I first came to know when I became involved in the parish 'homeless project' back in George Stack's & Fr Pat's day. Peggy was one of the team of volunteers in those early days when the project was getting started.

John, Peggy's husband, was alive at the time and I used to see them both at Mass on Sundays.

Peggy was a very accomplished seamstress and had her own small business. When her beloved John died, Peggy's life changed too. The arrival of Albert Salvans, who was ordained in the parish, was to change Peggy's life. Fr Albert's move to Turkana, NW Kenya, sparked a need to help with fund raising and out of that 'New Way's' was born thanks to Angela Docherty's foresight and vision. Peggy helped raise money for New Ways and devoted much of her spare time to helping in any way she could. Her flat in Camden Town became a home to many visiting missionaries and Peggy would pick them up or drop them off at the airport or station and would accommodate them as best she could. She then began to visit the mission in Turkana, her first trip was in 1996. For seven years Peggy made an annual visit. During her time there, she set up a number of small women's groups teaching them sewing and handcrafts and learning how to be self sufficient. School uniforms and clothes were being manufactured and many women started to make an income for themselves and were able to feed and educate their children for the first time. Peggy also taught literacy to the children at the mission. I am sure that there are a number of these children, now young adults, with Irish accents to this day!

Peggy then started to feel that maybe the St Paul's Missionary Community in Turkana might be the place where she wanted to spend longer, maybe on a permanent basis. I remember having a number of conversations with her as did many of you here about whether selling up and moving permanently at the tender age of 70 was a good idea. She mentioned that her family were also concerned but she did have that stubbornness about her and once she set her mind to do something nothing was going to get in her way. She was certainly not frightened of what she might face, she knew God would be on her side. I remember saying to her "what about snakes or crocodiles or other wild animals..." "so" she would say! Peggy was sure that her 'yes' to God was the right one, it resonated deep within her. In her own way, Peggy discerned the Ignatian way that our deepest desire is God's desire for us.

The farewell party the parish held for her was one of the happiest parties I have ever been to. Fr Tom has printed off the pictures which are at the back of the Church. Many of you will see yourselves, looking 10 years younger!

Peggy became a lay missionary and part of the St. Paul's Missionary Community in Turkana. She often sent pictures of her 'boys' as she called them, of the women's groups she worked with and the children she taught literacy to. She had her own garden and was pretty much self sufficient in vegetables and flowers. The pictures were happy, contented pictures of a life of joy and simplicity. Peggy's was a life well lived, a life worth remembering and celebrating. We know that latterly her mind had deteriorated but her smiles and her love of those around her were still infectious, she had great generosity and nobility of soul.

Her contribution to the Community and to the local people will be remembered for many years to come. She was a woman of faith, of prayer and of action.

She was buried on the day of her death behind the Sacred Heart Church at the top of the hill in the Lobur mission where she had been living the last few years. It was her wish to be buried there amongst the people she had come to know and love and where she felt so much at home. She was regarded as the "mummy" of the Mission and a second mum to Fr Albert.

When Angela's e mail came through informing us of Peggy's death, I recalled the words Jesus spoke in Matthew's Gospel, in the parable of the talents: " COME YOU THAT ARE BLESSED BY MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU..."

Peggy has been called to that ultimate union for which we are all destined.

We thank God for having known Peggy, for having been part of her life here at Our Lady Help of Christians, Kentish Town, and I know she is praying for us and for the friendship and love we shared together.

The mission is supported by New Ways. For more information or to make a donation, see: www.newways.org.uk

See also: Peggy Coffey Campbell has died