Sally Kamerling

Sally Nadine (Camp) Kamerling passed away on Thursday April 24, 2025 in Elizabethtown NY after a brief illness, with her children at her side.

Sally was born on April 30, 1938 in Cortland, New York, to the late William E. and Clara

L. (Boyce) Camp. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 57 years, Robert J. Kamerling in 2022 and her brother William B. Camp of Chambersburg PA also in 2022.

Survivors include her son, Robert W. Kamerling and his daughter, Maia; her daughter Sytske A. Kamerling-Martin, her husband Jeffrey R. Martin, and their daughter Anja; and her son Erik J. Kamerling and wife Elaina (Strickland) Kamerling and their daughters Saskia and Sonja. Sally's siblings, their spouses and children always held a special place in her heart, her surviving siblings include - Gretchen C. (George) Seirmarco of Ringwood, NJ, Deborah M. (James) Wheeling of Chambersburg, PA, Andrew D.(Bonnie) Camp of Lubbock, TX and Stephen P. (Deborah) Camp of Fitzwilliam, NH.

Sally attended Houghton College, where she completed her pre-nursing liberal arts courses and participated in Houghton's Musical Ministry Outreach. She continued her education at Columbia University where she received a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN). While raising her family, she obtained a Master's degree in Health Education from SUNY Cortland. She worked in Nursing her entire career, playing a direct role in the health, development and well-being of many area residents as a Public Health Nurse in Cortland County. She was a School Nurse Teacher for the Homer School System, then worked tirelessly to advocate for the proper care of developmentally disabled adults and children in her role as the Health Services Coordinator at the Cortland County ARC. Even in retirement, Sally continued to dedicate herself to supporting her community in her work as a part time Community Health Nurse for the county.

Sally was deeply interested in local history and her family's (Camp/Boyce) role in the region's growth. She reminisced often on life during World War II and the exciting developments at her father's business, Camp Packing Company in Cortland NY. She was a cherished participant in a local writer's group, an avid birdwatcher, a lifelong reader with a passionate interest in politics and religion, and was active in the local fiber arts community. She was well known, friendly, and community minded in the Cortland area and later in her new home of Wilmington, NY and at the Will Rogers Community in Saranac Lake. Sally was passionate about her family roots in Friesland (Netherlands) and nurtured and maintained connections with many family members, friends and acquaintances both at home and overseas. Her children still benefit from her work in strengthening those ties.

One of Sally's proudest moments was when, in later life, she became a published author of children's books and historical essays. Her work can be found in Chicken Soup For the Soul: Twins and More and Highlights children's magazine. Many of her stories dealt with her family's experience in local history, and her illustrated children's work documented her family's emigration from Friesland NL to the United States. "The Golden Cap" was her most expansive work, and is treasured by family and friends as a reminder of the creative, connected, and vibrant person Sally was.

A Graveside service will be held on July 18th at 1:30 pm at the Cortland Rural Cemetery. Sally will be interred with her husband Robert, and those who knew and loved Sally and Rob are invited to attend.

Memorial Contributions can be made to Doctors without Borders, and the Cortland Free Library.

Services were entrusted to Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home, PO Box 127, 3 College St., Au Sable Forks, NY 12912.