Camille Ann Kiegel

Camille Ann (Ingrassia) Kiegel, 89, died Thursday, December 1, 2016 following a brief stay at Hospice House North in Spokane, WA. Camille will be remembered for her energy, her intelligence and her involvement with people and causes that mattered to her deeply. She was a lifelong learner and remained curious about the world around her, exploring new activities until shortly before her death. Always an active volunteer, she was particularly attracted to issues of social justice, participating in the civil rights movement in the 1960's and ending the journey decades later as a joyful member of the Raging Grannies, an international group of grandmothers promoting peace, justice and economic equality through song & humor.

Camille was born on August 12, 1927 in New York City, the oldest child of Anthony Salvatore Ingrassia and Rose Marie Drago Ingrassia. The family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Camille was raised, along with her sister Rita and her brother Anthony. She graduated from Saint Mary's College in 1948 and married the enduring love of her life, Joseph H. Kiegel in Rockford, Illinois on October 14, 1950. In addition to raising her children Camille was a driving force in many community organizations. She co-chaired the Rockford Community Home Visit Program, an early civil rights movement which encouraged black and white families to break the barrier of segregated neighborhoods. She also served on the boards of the Rockford War on Poverty and the League of Women Voters and was a committed volunteer for the Foundation for International Cooperation. In 1975 she earned a Master of Arts in Library Science at Northern Illinois University and relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico with her husband and youngest son, John. Camille soon began a career at the Albuquerque Public Library as a librarian, retiring in 1989. In addition to her career, she was an early member and long time volunteer for the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC), founded by Father Richard Rohr in 1986. She was also a member of the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice and enjoyed being a docent (guide) at the Rio Grande Zoo. Camille brought her granddaughters to the zoo many times, as well as trips to the library, local museums and other learning opportunities in Albuquerque. Her love of nature inspired many worthwhile hours of trail work with the New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors and the Continental Divide Trail Alliance. In addition, Camille served with various organizations, including Trinity House (a Catholic Worker House) & Hospice of New Mexico.

Camille loved the beauty of all nature, particularly the mountains and belonged to several hiking groups. She and Joe also enjoyed backpacking, cross-country skiing and traveled extensively both abroad and in this country. Following her husband's death on June 20, 1998, Camille remained active in the community until 2015, when she relocated to Spokane, Washington.

Camille deeply loved her family. She is survived by son Joseph A. Kiegel of Seattle, WA; daughter Joan Cross and husband Jeff of Spokane, WA, son John Kiegel and wife Kim of Albuquerque and grandchildren Jeremy Cross, Kestrel Kiegel and Jenna Kiegel. Other survivors include brother in law Jim Plate and "Cousin" MaryJo (and John) Pritz, all of Rockford, IL . Camille spent a lifetime keeping in touch with those she loved and had a special bond with her nieces, nephews and their spouses. Those surviving are Albert and Janet Kiegel, Margaret Kiegel, Bill and Nancy Plate, Cathy Plate, Ann and Rick Schultz, John and Anne Gehred, Clare and Marco Matranga, Beth Gehred, Meg and Dean Hoornaert, Bob and Angie Gehred, Stacy Gehred, Larissa Gehred and Pattie Gehred.

A mass and memorial gathering will be Saturday, February 18th at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Church on Atrisco Drive. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors without Borders, Heifer International or Southern Poverty Law Center.