Obituary of Camille Gilliland

Camille Gilliland (née DeDonno) Camille "Cam" Gilliland, 64, died unexpectedly Sunday, July 27, 2014, in Sterling, Virginia, surrounded by her devoted husband, Larry, and adoring daughter, Jennifer, both of Sterling, Virginia. Camille was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 29, 1949, and grew up in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Mayfield High School in Mayfield, Ohio, and earned her bachelor's degree in special education from Bowling Green State University, Ohio. In 1975 she married Larry in a splendid ceremony in Lyndhurst, Ohio, followed by a honeymoon traveling throughout the South. Prior to her marriage, she worked as a special education teacher in Holgate, Ohio, and continued to teach in Delaware, Ohio, and, later, Marietta, Ohio. In 1985 Cam and Larry moved to Hong Kong for Larry to begin a new career. In Hong Kong Cam was requested to start a school for young adults with special needs. She found her greatest joy when she and Larry welcomed their daughter Jennifer into their lives in 1987. In 1994 the family moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for three years, until returning to the United States, when they settled in Sterling. When Cam passed away, she was employed at the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. Even after returning to the United States, Cam and Larry continued to travel the world, visiting France, the United Kingdom, and Thailand, and took several cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean. Cam's passion for cooking led to numerous amazing meals. She first learned to cook from her mother at an early age, cooking full meals by age eight. As she and Larry traveled the world, she delighted in specialty cooking classes in both Hong Kong and Paris. Cam commonly came home from work in the evening and prepared a dinner of "only" roasts, pasta, at least two vegetables, etc., etc. She was especially known for her holiday feasts, which always included at least one or two Asian dishes, while remembering the special dishes that were her family's favorites. She also entertained friends at yearly Christmas gatherings in her home. Known for TRYING to keep everyone organized in their daily lives, Cam's family credits her with many family photos they would not have had otherwise. She also made sure to telephone extended family and convey her well wishes and love on their birthdays and anniversaries. From several states away Cam organized a surprise party for her mother-in-law's 90th birthday and telephoned her mother-in-law multiple times a week to check on her and just to talk. Most lovingly, she frequently left surprise notes for Jennifer to find, wishing Jennifer good luck and always offering encouragement. Cam was preceded in death by her parents, John and Catherine (Gagliardi) DeDonno, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, and her father-in-law, Robert Gilliland, Holgate, Ohio. Cam will be dearly missed by Larry and Jennifer, as well as by her brother Russell and sister-in-law Patti DeDonno, Willoughby Hills, Ohio; her mother-in-law, Madeline Gilliland, Napoleon, Ohio; her brother- and sister-in-law, R. Lynn and Karen Gilliland, Defiance, Ohio; her brother- and sister-in-law, Lonnie and Diane Gilliland, Holgate, Ohio; her admiring nieces and nephews, and plentiful extended family and friends. Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, 46639 Algonkian Parkway, Potomac Falls, Virginia, on Friday, August 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 2, at 11 a.m. with a graveside service immediately following at Fairfax Memorial Park, 9900 Braddock Road, Fairfax, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, loved ones and friends may make contributions in Camille's name to a charity of their choice.