Obituary of Carmela Lucille Davids

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 22,  for Carmela Davids, who passed away peacefully in Santa Cruz. “Camille,” as she was affectionately known, had recently celebrated her 100th birthday this past month.  
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Nicholas Battafarano and Eleanor Miceli Battafarano, Camille graduated from Teacher’s College, and began a career in hospital lab technology .  Camille worked in the field of bacteriology at Hahnemann Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia, and  managed the hematology lab at the VA Hospital in Wilmington Delaware. 

Camille was a caring and dedicated professional, volunteering for hospitals in Philadelphia when she stopped working.    She loved to play the piano, and was an outstanding cook, who was very proud of her Italian heritage.  She moved to Santa Cruz in 1984 and attended St. Joseph’s Church in Capitola and the Villa Maria Del  Mar in Santa Cruz.  Camille enjoyed volunteering as a docent at the Joseph M. Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz for over 25 years, sharing her knowledge of marine life and science with visitors and creating friendships with other docents.  

She will be fondly remembered as a woman of courage, with a positive approach to life.  Her family would like to thank Camille’s caregivers and staff at Sunshine Villa where, for the past six years, “Carmelita” received love and care in a place she lovingly considered home.   Memories will continue to be shared of “Carmelita” as she exchanged smiles and laughs with others during her many walks at the Villa.  She was especially thrilled about celebrating her 100th birthday at Sunshine Villa with her caregivers, family and friends.  

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law John Alan Davids and Jana Kast- Davids, and her three beloved granddaughters: Julia, Jessica, and Justine Davids. 
Camille was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, John H. Davids in 2007, and also by sisters Rose Gustaferi, Eleanor Faderley, and brothers, Leonard Battafarano, and Nick Battafarano. 

The mass will celebrated on Tuesday, January 22 at the Villa Maria Del Mar (2-1918 East Cliff Drive) in Santa Cruz, beginning at 10:30 a.m.  She will be laid to rest beside her husband, John Davids at Holy Cross Cemetery in Santa Cruz following the mass. 
An act of charity may be made in her memory to St. Francis Catholic Kitchen, 205 Mora St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060.