Shop manager brought 'spirituality and joy'

A notice on the front door of the Christian Shop in Palatine alerts patrons to the sad news: its manager and friendly salesperson, Pamela A. Campbell, has passed away.

"A lot of our customers are pretty shocked," owner Mike Rheaume said. He added the store will be closed on Friday, the day of Mrs. Campbell's funeral.

"She brought such great spirituality and joy to the shop," he adds, "and she took time with customers to really serve their needs."

Mrs. Campbell worked for the store for nearly six years. The 24-year Barrington resident passed away Saturday at 59.

Since moving with her husband and two sons to Barrington in 1983, Mrs. Campbell became active in her children's activities at Immanuel Lutheran School in Palatine, Barrington Middle School and Barrington High School.

She also helped her husband start his new business in Barrington, MASI Ltd., that specialized in mergers and acquisitions.

Mrs. Campbell started working at the Christian Shop, which offers a full line of religious goods, after shopping there herself.

"She very much enjoyed being able to share her faith with people that came in," says her oldest son, the Rev. Braun Campbell of Alexandria, VA.

While Mrs. Campbell began as a part time sales clerk, in recent years the Rheaumes turned to her to handle the day-to-day store management.

"We selected he right person to share our store's mission," Mike Rheaume says.

The Rev. Campbell adds that his mother's faith, as well as his grandmother's strong religious foundation, played a role in his decision to become a Lutheran pastor, after an initial career in consulting.

"In my mother's life, and my grandmother's, they gave clear witness to what we believe in as Christians," he said. "Both my parents were very supportive of my decision to attend the seminary."

When she wasn't working, Mrs. Campbell was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, including the church's College Connect group, which ships care packages to its college students, as well as the Peace Group and Altar Guild.

Besides her son, Mrs. Campbell is survived by her husband, S. Jack Campbell; son Drew Campbell of Gilbert, AZ; and brother, Gary Paul of Denver, CO.

Visitation for Mrs. Campbell will begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday before a 1:30 p.m. funeral service, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1190 N. Hicks Road in Palatine.