Anita "Mema" Claire Hall's Obituary
Anita Claire Hall, 95, passed peacefully in her sleep on June 13, 2022 after a long life filled with love, heartbreak, joy and tears.
She was born to Frederick and Gladys Campbell in Morrisville, PA.
She is preceded in death by her husband Russell, both parents, her sister Janice Davis and brother Fred "Buddy" Campbell.
She is survived by a sister Dawn Richard Lancaster; her son, Russell Jon Hall, his wife Patricia and sons Russell, Blake (Suzel) and Seth (Callie). Daughter Wanda, her husband Robert and sons Roberto and Lorenzo.
Great Grandchildren, Nathan, Sara, Ella, Mark, Julie, Caroline, Audrey, Emily, Avery and Alexander, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Grandma Claire Obituary
Grandma Claire (Mema) was the coolest Grandmother of all time. Always the best dancer on the floor, she lived her life passionately. She loved her family the same way.
Though Grandma Claire did not volunteer to serve in the military, the burden of military service fell heaviest on her. She cared for her husband, a decorated war hero, for decades after a heart attack disabled him. Whenever her family needed her, she was there. She sent her grandson Blake, a care package every single week for fifteen months while he was in Iraq.
She raised a son, Russell Jon (Skip) who earned admission to West Point and commanded a combat brigade. She raised a daughter, Wanda, who served as a HS Registrar, positively changing the lives of hundreds of students, and who cared enough about her mom to stay close to her for the duration of her life to see after her. She became the matriarch of a successful family full of military service members, communication specialists, a doctor, an engineer, and an entrepreneur.
Grandma always shared her opinion with you. Whether expressing her unflagging support for the Republican party or convincing her elderly friends to take a trip to Vegas, she knew what she wanted to do and spent most of her time convincing others to join her. While she might passionately disagree with others, that same passion and commitment to her ideals had many positive effects -- not least supporting anyone who needed help.
Grandma always put the needs of her family and others before her own self-interest. Her heroism was earned not in a single moment but rather each morning in small doses as she gave pieces of her life away to serve the people she loved. She personified honor -- seeing a sacred oath through to the bitter end no matter the obstacles. While many can pay lip service to such an ideal, few can walk that path to the very end as she did.
Grandma was exceptionally proud of her family. She took joy in the success of her children and grandchildren. She made an announcement to her friends that her grandson had been admitted to Harvard University BEFORE he even applied. That pride motivated him to apply and proved her statement true. She wanted to help whenever her family ran into trouble. An unfailing optimist, Grandma saw the best in people.
If my grandmother was flawed, then she was flawed by her drive to help others. If she was stubborn in her arguments, then she was also stubborn in her resolve. If she was blinded by her love, then her love also blinded her to personal imperfections and allowed her to show grace. If she was obstinate, then she was obstinate in her willingness to see the best in people.
May we all be so fortunate to be flawed in the same way.
Goodbye Mom, Sister, Aunt, Grandma, Mema. We love you and we will miss you every day. Thank you for being the best Grandmother ever.
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