Obituary of Joseph R. Salamendra
Joseph R. "Joe" Salamendra
Dundee: Joseph R. "Joe" Salamendra of Dundee NY passed away peacefully on his 75th birthday Friday Feb. 16, 2018, at Strong Memorial Hospital after a long courageous battle with cancer.
Call hours will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 22) at the Baird Funeral Home 36 Water St. Dundee. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a time for friends to celebrate his life by sharing memories and stories. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday (Feb. 23) at Saint Mary's of the Lake Church 905 N. Decatur St. Watkins Glen, NY, with Father Steven Lape officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Dundee, N.Y.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dundee Fire Company Emergency Squad 12 Union St. Dundee, 14837; or the B. Thomas Golisano Hope Lodge Hospitality House 1120 S. Goodman St. Rochester, NY 14620.
Joe was born February 16, 1943 to the late Joseph and Nellie {Gorecki} Salamendra. He graduated from Dundee Central School in 1961 and went on to marry the love of his life Bernita "Bernie" Doolittle on November 29, 1969. Joe was employed for many years at Palmer Chevrolet which resulted in a very close friendship with Ed Palmer who became like a dad to him. In 1971 he opened his own auto body shop (Joe's Repair Shop) at his residence in Dundee and owned and operated his business until 2017 when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Joe was a member of the Dundee American Legion for 38 years and also a member of the Barrington Rifle Club to which he jokingly referred to as his prayer meeting.
He served in the Army Reserves for 6 years. He was a devoted Catholic and was a member of St Mary's of the Lake Church in Watkins and served as an usher for many years.
Joe loved people and had many friends. He loved going to Pratt's Auto every morning to have coffee with the guys and give them "Hell" (orders) before they started their work day. He enjoyed hunting, NASCAR, carving wooden ducks for close friends, going to car shows and spending time with his wife and their beloved dog Bo Bo.
Joe is survived by and will be forever missed by his wife of 48 years Bernie Salamendra at home; a son Joseph "Bum" (Carmela) Salamendra, a grandson whom he loved dearly Cody Salamendra, all of Dundee; 2 sisters Felicia (Jake) Dvornicky of Elmira NY, Theresa (Bob) Centrone of Savona NY; a very close niece Mary Jane Moore and many other nieces, nephews and cousins; very close friends Tom Pratt Sr., Tony Specchio, Dart Jepsen, Karl Weichenthal and Jim Moore, Steve Hill; John & Linda Warner, and his beloved four legged companion Bo Bo whom he loved dearly.
Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.