Nancy Elizabeth Campbell

February 10, 1965 ~ April 22, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the peaceful passing of Nancy Elizabeth Campbell, age 60, on April 22, 2025, at her home in Sebastopol, California. By her side were her children, Maya and Rowan Campbell-Voss, and her sister Emily Clayton. Nancy bravely battled breast cancer for ten years, continuing to work and raise her children to adulthood as a single parent. During the four weeks that Nancy was under the care of hospice she was lovingly surrounded by her parents, Thomas and Susan Campbell, her brother Alexander, her aunt and uncles, cousins, her many friends from the Tumbleweed Playgroup and the Sebastopol Independent Charter school, her fellow classmates in the psychology program at Meridian University, her co-workers from True to Life Child and Family Services, their Transitional Housing Program, and her neighbors at the Sequoia Village housing community.

Nancy, a fifth-generation Californian, was born February 10, 1965, in Berkeley, where she spent her first 11 years. In nearby Tilden Park, happy hours were spent enjoying pony rides, the little train, the merry-go-round, and the Little Farm. She attended Berkeley Hills Primary School and frequented the Oakland Museum, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Planetarium. During these formative years, Nancy’s father drove the family throughout the Western United States, visiting the many beautiful National Parks. This is where she developed her love for the open road, nature, wildlife, and flowers.

In 1976, the family moved to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County’s Redwood Empire. Luther Burbank called it “the chosen spot in all the earth as far as nature is concerned”. Nancy attended Rincon Valley Elementary and Junior High Schools and Ursuline High School. She made good friends, dabbled in art, and joined a soccer team. Imagination was always Nancy’s strong point, and reading for enjoyment was her favorite hobby.

Throughout the years, many happy holiday hours were spent enjoying the Pacific Ocean; some in Carmel at Nancy’s grandmother's house and others at the family cabin on the Big Sur Coast. Romping in the surf, collecting rocks and shells, hiking, and playing games with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were favorite pastimes. Visits to the ocean on the Sonoma coast would continue for the rest of Nancy’s life.

Nancy also had a great love for the mountains. Fourth of Julys were spent alongside the Feather River in the Sierras. There were trips to the cabin in the Oregon Cascades near Crater Lake. Both were family havens surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks, icy cold lakes, snow-fed rivers, and wildlife.

Nancy attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she attained her Bachelor of Arts degree. Returning to Santa Rosa, she worked at an abortion clinic, supporting and counseling women. Her interest in psychology deepened and led her to Meridian University for a postgraduate degree and her doctorate in clinical psychology.

While fulfilling internship hours for her degree, she worked for what is now TLC Child and Family Services in Sebastopol. Here, she worked in the group homes as support staff and a therapist to teen boys. Later, she became the assistant program director and then the director for the Transitional Housing Program, which helped teens from 18-21 to progress out of foster care and into mainstream society. She and co-worker, Lisa, started a drop-in center in Santa Rosa for young adults in the program. It was a difficult and taxing job that saw successes and failures. She found her role helping disadvantaged teens and young adults rewarding. Throughout her years on the job, she easily developed a rapport with clients and staff. She was admired for her dedication, knowledge, professionalism, patience, care, and kindness. Nancy had to step back from the stresses of the job as her disease progressed. She continued to work from home and online until just a few weeks before her death. She was fortunate to have found a career for which she had passion, dedication, and love.

Nancy’s happiest times were spent raising her children, Maya and Rowan, in Sebastopol. As a single parent, she developed an amazing set of friends and extended family for the three of them. Hours were spent with the Tumbleweed Play Group at the Ragle Park playground. Thursday nights were Papas y Pollo dinners. Every summer they went on camping trips to the Eel River in the Redwoods. Monthly birthday celebrations and yearly calendars brought them together often. These family friends, and others from the kids’ charter school and Nancy’s work, gave them incredible support and a strong sense of community.

When Nancy was first diagnosed with cancer, her children were 12 and 17. Her goal was to live to see them into adulthood. She was steadfast, resolute, determined, and successful. Maya, now 27, became a marine biologist. Rowan, 22, is studying business at Santa Rosa Junior College and planning to transfer to U.C. Berkeley. Together, the three of them took a memorable European vacation to Italy and Scotland. A thirst for world travel was born.

Nancy was relieved and comforted knowing that she was leaving two beautiful, independent young adults to carry on where she left off. Her children, her family, and many, many friends will miss her here on earth. All will remember her for her kindness, humor, generosity, and love. A memorial fund has been established for Nancy’s children to cover medical and funeral costs, and continued education. If you would like to contribute, please go to: 

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