Faustine Camp, a ‘Rosie the riveter’

Lawrence native Faustine Maria DeRosa Camp was part of the “greatest generation” that took part in World War II. She worked as a riveter in a Grumman plant during the war. The women who took the place of men in factories during the war were known as “rosies” symbolized by the cultural icon Rosie the Riveter.

Camp died on Nov. 26 in Folsom, Calif. She was 91.

Born in Lawrence on Feb. 20, 1922, Camp, whose maiden name was DeRosa, moved to Inwood when she was 11 to live with her grandmother after her mother died at 37.

A graduate of Lawrence High School, she went to work for Grumman and met her husband, Wilbert ‘Bill’ Camp during the war. After it ended they were married in Inwood and moved to California. The couple had four children. Bill predeceased her.

In her later years Camp was a resident of Emeritus Assisted Living in Folsom. She was a member of the Folsom Senior Citizens Club, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW and the organic gardening club, along with being a congregant of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

“As an avid baker and cook, she remained active until the end,” said nephew Michael DeRosa.

She is survived by daughters Christine Hooper and Lorraine Parent, sons Bill and Joe Camp and sons-in-law Allen Hooper and Danny Parent, grandsons Nathan and Nick Hooper and Craig Buche, sister Angela Broadhead and several nieces and nephews.

A viewing was held at Miller’s Funeral Home in Folsom on Dec. 4. A funeral mass and reception was held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church one day later. Camp was interred at Lakeside Cemetery, also in Folsom.