Beth Campanella

Beth Campanella


On October 8^th 2011, a dear friend and classmate of mine was in a terrible and fatal car accident, with her little sister Katie, who unfortunately passed away, in the accident. Beth was not only left with severe injuries, such as a broken pelvis and a both arms broken, she was left an only child and without her little sister.  Beth and I are both juniors in high school, when our class with maybe 90-110 girls (All-girls school is the way to go!) got word of what had happened to our classmate, the Lord entered into ALL of our lives and was not going anyway.
Beth is vice president of our class, on National Honors Society, and not to mentation she is a tennis STUD, if you haven’t caught on by now, this girl has got it going on. She is one of the best people I have ever had the privilege to know, her kindness and joy for life has (and will always) be a part of who she is, even when struggles that seem unbearable come her way, she finds and determines herself to seek a way to find, joy, love, and the Lord within everything she faces. To say she is inspirational could not even begin to describe her fully, but it’s a start.

Since living in the St. Louis area, which isn’t small by any degree, but we aren’t talking LA large here people, so please understand that, for one person to change the whole realm of thousands upon thousands of people’s lives, is very hard to do, even within a tragedy, but if you have two people, the possibilities are endless. That’s where sweet Katie Campanella comes into the picture, though she may be gone from this earth, she is never far from loved ones hearts and minds. I personally only met Katie once, shortly before her passing, but that was enough for me to see and experience the beautiful legacy she started here on earth, and is continuing in heaven.

The day I met her, was a day I will never forget, just as the day she left this world, and I speak for her loved ones, my class, and everyone who ever knew her, or has heard her story and has been touched by it since, that they look at their lives differently now because of this beautiful 11 year old girl. If you were to ask any person, having met Katie, what they would take away from who she was or the life she lived, they might say things like, to love others always, and tell the people you care about how much they mean to you, to smile even when it’s hard, to sing and sing LOUD, be happy because life is meant to be lived happily, never give up on yourself, each day you are allowed another morning, strive to be better than you were the day before. I know for myself she has taught me, to live my life in service for others, as she did. Though she was just one girl, she was meant for a bigger purpose, a purpose of HOPE, which is just beginning to unfold with her life and passing, she taught me to love the people in my life with every aspect of my heart and soul, because they are the ones that matter the most, she also taught me to thank God for those people, because I know my life would not be where it is without them.

To Beth, you and your sister have shown me what it means to have true sisterhood and I am forever grateful for that, though Katie is not physically here, she is defiantly here spiritually, never doubt that. She is watching out for you, and is going to continue to be involved in your life, within the details.
What I mean is that, when you turn and see a sunrise, and you don’t know why you suddenly glanced and looked at it, that’s Katie putting her hand to your face, and turning your head, so you can see God’s beauty, when you need it most. When a cool breeze brushes your cheek and the warm rays hit your skin that is Katie giving you a kiss on the cheek, and a warm hug, just letting you know she’s with the Lord, and they both are loving on you constantly. Every time you look up to the sky and see the stars, know that Katie designed and aligned them herself, so her beautiful big sissy, could smile right up at her. Katie with always be with you Beth, ask her to pray for you, and with you.
“I can do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me!” Philippians 4:13
That verse, is a shout out from the Lord that, you can do anything, literally anything, and with Katie’s help, and the man upstairs’ guidance, your life and Katie’s legacy is meant to change the world.

To all those reading this, who did not have the privilege of knowing Katie, or who may never meet Beth, allow me to give you each a challenge that not only with honor the memory of Katie, but honor the life of Beth, the challenge being…..prayer.
Though it seems, small and insignificant, as the old saying goes, if you think something is too small to make a difference, you obviously have never been in bed with a mosquito. Catch my drift?

Prayer will always change the way you, look, feel, and act toward anything. When anything bad happens, we always say, to pray for the person, and their family. Which is BEAUTIFUL, and alone is amazing, but that can’t be it, that can’t be the only time that prayer is needed or helpful, I think if I have learned anything or really been shown anything by this tragedy it is that, prayer is maybe most needed or used in times of trial, but its most affective in times of joy.
Katie’s life is something to be celebrated, with joy, happiness and lots of smiles. Beth’s recovery and future is something to be rejoiced over and distinguished as a miracle. Both involve some sort of prayer.

Prayer will allow us to celebrate Katie, and rejoice over Beth, we thank and praise God for Katie, and exalt His glory for Beth. Prayer is what connects each one of us to the Lord, and the Lord is what connects us to love, which we show to those we LOVE. Makes sense right?
Offer prayers for Beth and her family, offer prayers in thanksgiving for her parents, talk to God and just lift up their names, He’s listening, but you got to talk, but He’s a patient God, He will wait.

Whether you are teenager like me, a husband, wife, daughter or son, we all have someone in this world who we love, and we ALL have someone in a divine world, who loves US, but we are connected through prayer. Live as Katie lived, with passion and love.

St. Raphael Pray for Us!
St. Agnes Pray for Us!
St. Rita Pray for Us!
Katie Campanella, Pray for Us!