Nancy R. Salmon

Nancy Raiano Salmon of Amsterdam NY and Orleans MA passed away on November 20th, 2018 from complications due to a brief and unexpected bout of pneumonia. She was 71 years old. Her Funeral Mass will be held Friday, December 7th at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans, MA, with a gathering of friends and family afterwards. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Nickerson Funeral home of Orleans, MA. Nancy, known as “Mina” to many of her friends, graduated from Wilbur H Lynch High School in Amsterdam NY. Her most cherished memories of that time were of the theater productions led by Bert DeRose. “Mina” worked onstage and off as both a performer and, more often, as student director or stage manager. She loved the theater and her fellow performers very much. When not in the theater, Nancy could often be found at “Mac’s Confectionary” her parent’s store on Glen Avenue. Mac and Virginia Raiano loved her and were proud of her. Nancy went on to earn her degree at Russell Sage College in Troy NY, and continued her education, pursuing and obtaining her paralegal degree later in life. Nancy worked hard and conscientiously at everything she did, from running the checking department at Amsterdam Savings Bank, to running the jewelry department for a department store, to serving as paralegal for a local law firm. She volunteered locally at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and The Sir William Johnson Society. Nancy and several of her dear friends were also well known for their organization and contributions to the annual Festival of Trees charity event. Whether volunteering or employed, Nancy tackled every job she ever had with purpose and energy. Later in life, Nancy brought that same energy to the sport of showing purebred dogs. She co-owned and bred champion Irish Setters, Irish Wolfhounds, and English Pointers. The weekend before she passed, she attended the National Dog Show in Philadelphia, where her wolfhound won best of breed. Her friends in that sphere were like a second family to Nancy, and participating in a show, big or small, always filled her with joy and excitement. She is survived by her beloved husband Jim Salmon, also of Amsterdam and Orleans. He and Nancy were married for 31 years. She is also survived by her son, Christopher Noble, her two lovely grandchildren, her former husband John Noble, and by many, many, cousins in the Raiano, Pisano and Carlucci families. Her warmth, quick wit and bright smile will be missed by family and friends alike. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc, in Orleans, MA on Friday December 7, 2018 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given in Nancy’s name to Take The Lead, a nonprofit she supported that provides support and care for people in the sport of purebred dogs who suffer life-threatening or terminal illnesses. For online condolences please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.