Frances Mae Salamone Nelson

Chandler, AZ –

Frances Mae Salamone Nelson

, daughter of Philip and Mary Linarys Salamone, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2022, surrounded by her loving family and cat, Precious. Up until her passing, she was the energizer bunny, a true fireball with a mind as sharp as a tack and a quick wit. She was steadfast in her Catholic faith throughout her life. She was born in Beloit, WI on December 19, 1929. She graduated from Beloit Memorial High School and then attended Beloit College, where she was a member of Tri Delta sorority, before transferring and graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Chemistry. While in high school and during college she worked for her family’s business, Salamone Food Market. After graduation from UW-Mad she married Carl B. Nelson, Jr., on July 4, 1952, whom she met at the Pop House and was married to for 67 years prior to his passing in 2019. They moved to Loves Park, Illinois to begin their life together until they relocated to Mesa, AZ in 2017. She worked for Illinois Water Treatment until the birth of her loving son, Carl Benjamin Nelson, III. She later returned to Northern Illinois University to obtain her Master’s degree in Education. She retained her interests in chemistry and numbers by becoming a high school Home Economics teacher at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Il and then later starting her own bookkeeping and tax business, Winnebago Bookkeeping and Tax. She dabbled in animal husbandry, with interests in raising chinchillas and koi fish. Other hobbies included bridge, reading, bowling, birding, fishing, golfing, and gardening. Like most Italian mothers, she was an outstanding Italian chef that many benefited, particularly her son and grandchildren who inherited her love for food and family. Survivors include her son, Carl, along with his wife, Shelly, grandchildren, Trevor and Kylee, her brother, Louis Salamone, and his wife, Louise Schimmel, and many, many nieces and nephews. In addition to being predeceased by her father (1987) and mother (2004), she was predeceased by her dear sister, Margaret Salamone Polaski (2000) and brother-in-law, Terry Polaski (2021). Our family wishes to thank all those who provided care and support during her illness. A viewing and funeral services will be held October 8, 2022, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mesa, AZ. She will be interred with her beloved husband, Carl, at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Cave Creek on October 12, 2022.