Camille Dominique Marie Berns

Camille Dominique Marie Berns

We never really knew what “living loud” entailed until Camille burst into our life.

This little girl was a blonde explosion, that is, until she became a brunette explosion. As she spun through life, we nicknamed her Hurricane Camille, and she left an impact wherever she went.

She fought for justice and fiercely loved, to the point where we’d sometimes need to just retreat and regroup. She was just that relentless, just that intense—a voice crying out against an apathetic world.

Camille was one that could leave you breathless in a thousand, wonderful, colorful ways.

She is daughter, sister, cousin, classmate. She is goddaughter, coworker, confidante and niece. She is that person you could text at 2:00 a.m.; she would be there for you justlikethat; she would laugh or she would cry, often both at the same time.

Camille was born on October 11, 2004—a Monday’s child, fair of face—and was immediately the darling of her four older siblings. In a large family, one must be loud to be heard; Camille checked off that one in record time.

Back in the day, her mom wrote a blog, and more often than not, Camille was the star. She was a constant font of quotable moments, from her “Maggie’s a funny name, Mommy. It kind of sounds like maggot” to her “It’s going to be hard to choose a man to marry, because there’s no one I know and there’s no one I like.”

She loved makeup, jewelry and getting her nails done at the salon. She loved plants, animals and those little red mushrooms with white polka dots. She loved—and excelled at—the sport of soccer. She was amazingly talented when it came to art and drama, yet shrugged it off when receiving compliments. She got straight A’s without even trying.

That said, Camille’s gifts are nothing compared to her giving. Camille leaves behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, laughter and joy; hers is a light that will never go out because it’s being passed from hand to hand and it’s burning bright in countless hearts.

Rest In Peace, blessed and beautiful girl. We love you truly, madly, deeply…and we’re shattered you had to leave us.

Survived by her father, John, and mother, Margaret; brothers John Michael, Stephen, Anthony and Nicholas; sisters Maria and Avila; grandparents John and Char Berns and Cathy Hartle and Doug Larsen; godparents Angel and Tanya Sanchez; aunts Colleen "Bella" Berns, Megan Baierlein (Kirk), Yvonne Ward, Linda Baskerville, Renee Griffith (James), and Mary Dalzell (Kelly); Uncle Michael Ethier; and many, many, many cousins.

Preceded in death by her grandparents George and Rita Ethier; her uncle Bill Ward; her great uncle Fred Berns; and her second cousin Kellee Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.

Mass of Christian Burial 2 PM Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at The Church of the Holy Family, 5900 W. Lake St, St. Louis Park, MN.  55416. The Mass will be livestreamed on the church website. https://www.hfcmn.org/live-stream

Visitation Monday, February 21, 2022 4-8 PM at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37Th Ave. N., Plymouth, MN  55446.  The rosary will be recited at 4 PM and a prayer service with memory sharing begins at 6:30 PM; memory sharing has been recorded and a video will be posted here soon.