Herbert and Carmen Salcedo. She survived a World War 2 Prison Camp with her family in Bacolod,
reportedly endearing her 7 year old self to their captors by memorizing and singing back Japanese
jingles to them which she still remembered as an adult. She was a music lover, having learned to play
classical piano at a young age. After the war, they settled in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. She graduated
with honors from high school at Father Saturnino Urios College in 1955. She also attended the
Philippine Women’s University JASMS and excelled in advanced Math, Chemistry and Varsity
Swimming. She vied to represent the country for the 1956 Summer Olympics. She went on to college
at the University of Santo Tomas Manila.
She met her husband Alexander S. Dabuet Jr. in Nasipit during the town fiesta’s beauty pageant when
she was crowned 1st Princess of Nasipit. They were married in Manila 2 years later and had 6
children. She and her husband have resided in New Jersey for the past 20 years.
She was a devoted wife and mother, soft spoken and kind with an infectious laughter and great sense
of humor. Beloved by her siblings and friends, she was warm and welcoming to everyone. She would
often open our door to displaced ethnic minorities in Nasipit to share whatever little she had from her
pantry or fruit trees in season. Most often the first to visit and lend a hand to neighbors or friends in
crisis.
A tennis player and enthusiast for most of her adult life, she could somehow retain foreign sounding
names of players and knew their love lives even as she started to struggle with dementia.
She loved her grandchildren with a fierce devotion. She wrote down snippets of her interaction with
them so she won’t forget the details. She was a big fan of dogs, mangoes, Frank Sinatra, crossword
puzzles, mahjong, lechon, jackfruit and orchids. Her green thumb is legendary.
Nellie lived her life with meaning, love and the Catholic faith. She lost her parents at the age of 21 and
wholeheartedly cared for her younger siblings even as she started having kids of her own. She often
wondered if she would live past 42 years, the age her own mother passed. Yet she went on to double
that number, celebrating her 84th birthday with aplomb and passed away on Thursday February 11th,
the same month as her mom just to show off her resilience and fortitude.
Nellie is survived by her husband, her children Anne Karen, Patrick, Sheila Fara, Myra Grace Mitty and
Kenneth Alfred; daughters-in law Mina, Michelle and Theresa, 16 grandchildren, 4 greatgrandchildren, her sisters and brother-in-law, Honey Wells, Jane and Jun Reyes, and Czarine Mclean,
countless nieces and nephews and cousins. She is pre-deceased by her oldest son Alan and 3 other
siblings.
Nellie spent her few remaining years in the company of her devoted and loving husband at Magnolia
Gardens Assisted Living Facility. She tenderly held his hand as she passed peacefully while her favorite
Bisaya song was sung in the background.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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