Camille Marie Kopriva Regli
July 18, 1938 - January 14, 2025

Camille Regli, a beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and artist, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on January 14, 2025, in Fortuna. Surrounded by her loving family, Camille passed after a long battle with lung complications caused by Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and a recent battle with multiple myeloma.

Born on July 18, 1938, in Bowbells, North Dakota, Camille was the oldest of five children, growing up during the transformative years of World War II. During the war the family moved to Key West, Florida where her father taught navigation in the navy. Her family’s journey took them across several states, finally settling in St. Maries, Idaho, where she completed high school. This is when Camille thought she’d create her own nickname that sounded “cool” and began to call herself Cami. She also enjoyed skiing in the Idaho winters and swimming in the warm summers. She worked for two years as a lifeguard at the St. Marie’s town pool.

Camille lived in six different states before turning 20, including North Dakota, Arizona, Florida, Montana, Idaho and California. Camille soon pursued her academic dreams at Humboldt State University and later at San Francisco State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology in 1960.

During the summer of 1958, while Camille was home in Fortuna, her roommate Pat Regli introduced Camille to her older brother Joe, her future husband, who had returned from serving in the Army in Germany. The couple married on September 17, 1960. Camille worked as a lab technician for St. Joseph Hospital until their first child was born, in 1961. Together, they raised five children on their family dairy farm, Seawood Jerseys, where she dedicated herself to motherhood, community involvement and feeding calves on the dairy.

One of Camille’s most difficult challenges came during the devastating flood of 1964, when both the dairy and the lower level of their home were submerged. With four young children under five years old, including an infant Bernadette, Camille always recalled a man in a “frog-suit” coming up in a boat to the window to rescue the children. Luckily, the children could be with local family and friends while she undertook the daunting task of cleaning up. The local nuns helped the family during this time by purchasing baby formula, donating funds to help repair the floor, furniture and other damages. Unfortunately, during the flood the family lost their prized dairy bull and several other animals.

Camille was an active participant in the Ferndale Booster Band, involved in P.E.O., a docent at the Ferndale Museum, a 4-H leader, and a chaperone for ski club trips, continuing to ski well into her 70s. Once Camille started painting she became very involved with the Humboldt County art community and was a member of several art organizations.

Camille discovered her passion for painting in 1975, taking classes at College of the Redwoods and co-founding the Ferndale Arts Cooperative in 1990. Her oil paintings, particularly showcasing the scenic beauty of the Ferndale Valley, won numerous awards and can be found in many homes throughout Humboldt County. A devoted community member, Camille managed the Fine Arts Building at the Humboldt County Fair for many years. She also traveled extensively, creating numerous paintings capturing her adventures with family and friends.

Camille cherished family gatherings and time spent with friends, including her beloved card groups. On any given day Camille could be seen cheering on her grandchildren at sporting events, FFA competitions and 4-H activities. Above all, as an active member of the Assumption Church, Camille loved our Lord and was a practicing Catholic. From daily mass to praying the rosary, her devout faith inspired her friends, children, and grandchildren.

Camille is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Regli; her parents, Eugene and Dolores Kopriva; brother Jim Kopriva; sister Karel Perras; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Eileen & Wes Simpson; brothers-in-law Dick Cahill, Vance Caswell, Jimmy Regli; and in-laws Antone & Elizabeth Regli.

Camille is survived by her children: Michael (Sally) Regli, Jim (Susan) Regli, Rebecca (John) Leveille, Bernadette (John) Church, and Dennis (Denise) Regli.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sarah Jean Regli, Kaitlyn (Chris) Rye, Tyler (Taylor) Regli, Rachelle (Barrett) Moore, Dominic (Mary) Regli, Genevieve (Matthew) Ruby, Seth Regli, Gianna Regli, Renae (Reece) Oliver, Brian Leveille, Amanda (Colton) Brodt, Tanner Church, and Kayla Regli; great grandchildren: Blakely & Barrett Brodt, Isaac, Marcus, & Patrick Rye, Emilia Regli, Emerson Oliver, and Rosemary Moore, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Mary Caswell, brother Andy (Joanne) Kopriva, brother-in-law Phil (Harlean) Regli, sister-in-law Pat Cahill, and brother-in-law John (Sally) Regli.

All are invited to attend a Rosary on February 14 at 7 p.m. and funeral mass on Saturday, February 15 at 10 a.m. both at Assumption Church in Ferndale. A lunch reception and Celebration of Life will follow the funeral at the Ferndale Community Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

1. Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa, P.O. Box 1297, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 for support of the Special Project interest: 1st Daughter House in Ferndale, California
2. Assumption Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1097, Ferndale, CA 95536.
3. Alpha-1 Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, Florida 33134  (link).
4. St. Vincent de Paul: Redwoods Council, 35 W 3rd Street, Eureka, CA 95501