On Jan. 2, 2021, Drew Ann Dunigan, beloved wife of 34 years to Andrew Campanella and mother of Julia Campanella, passed away in Vero Beach, Florida.
Drew was 59 years old, and had been valiantly battling a degenerative brain disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, for nine years.
Born in Rumson to John Dunigan and Elizabeth Donald Dunigan Kerekesh, Drew graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and then attended Parsons School of Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Gemological Institute of America in New York City where she studied jewelry design.
After working for several renowned jewelry designers in New York, Drew launched her own line of fine jewelry in 1988 – collections in sterling silver, vermeil and precious stones that were sold in Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus across the United States.
Drew and Andy married in 1987 and lived in New York City for several years before moving to Fair Haven where they bought and renovated a home… thus starting a long line of house renovations that Drew loved doing. Drew was a member of the Fair Haven Town Council for several years and opened a jewelry workshop and store in town.
In 2001, Drew, Andy and Julia moved to Vermont where they lived full-time for 15 wonderful and happy years. Their lives in Vermont centered around Dorset and Manchester, where they bought and renovated several homes. Drew was active in the Dorset community and had her jewelry workshop and store on the Dorset town square. Her talents for design expanded from jewelry to home furnishings and she created collections for Chandler 4 Corners. Over the years, Drew, Andy and Julia also welcomed into their home students from around the world who were attending Burr & Burton Academy in Manchester.
Drew was a creator and maker of beautiful things – homes, jewelry, interior furnishings and décor – but there was no more beautiful or important creation than her family and her love for Andy and Julia.
Drew is survived by a large and loving circle of family: her husband Andrew Campanella; her daughter Julia Campanella; her sister Patricia Dunigan; her brothers John Dunigan and Michael Dunigan; her mother-in-law Lucy Campanella; her sisters-in-law Patricia Dunigan and Elizabeth Dunigan; her brother-in-law Alfred Campanella and spouse Carolyn Campanella; sister-in-law Lucy Mascola and spouse John Mascola; sister-in-law Felicia Campanella and spouse James Anderson; and 11 beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Drew Ann were held Jan. 11 at Holy Cross Church in Rumson. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the VNA in memory of Drew Ann Dunigan at vnatc.com or 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, Florida.
The article originally appeared in the January 21 – 27, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
