Mrs. Virginia Salmon Desmond, 83, formerly of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, died Friday, October 6, 2006, at the Jewish Health and Rehabilitation Center in Dewitt. Mrs. Desmond was a 1941 graduate of the Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth, NJ, and a 1944 graduate of Orange Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Orange, NJ, becoming a registered nurse in December 1944. In June 1945 she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant for the U.S. Army and served in the Army Nurse Corps at Northington General Hospital in Alabama during World War II. Mrs. Desmond received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education from Seton Hall College in 1949, the first graduating class to include women. Throughout her nursing career, Mrs. Desmond served in various capacities including industrial nursing, school nursing and private duty. Mrs. Desmond was an active member and leader of many church and community organizations, various Rosary societies, Catholic Women's Club of Elizabeth and the Catholic Daughters of America. She was president of the Belleville Women's Club and served as Americanism Chairman of the Argonne Post 6 American Legion where she was a member for over 50 years. Born in Elizabeth, NJ, she and her husband owned and operated Desmond Funeral Home in Elizabeth and the Wadsworth Funeral Home in Belleville before retiring in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. Predeceased by her husband of 53 years, James F. Desmond; her parents, John F. and Rosalie Tierney Salmon; and two brothers, John and Edward J. Salmon. Survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Pat and David Cox of Fayetteville, NY; grandchildren, Megan and Philippe Marx of East Syracuse, NY, and Katharine Cox of Fayetteville, NY. Funeral services and visitation were held in Point Pleasant, NJ. Burial in St. Anne's Cemetery in Wall Township, NJ. Keegan-Osbelt-Knight Funeral Home, Inc. was entrusted with the local arrangements.

Published in Syracuse Post Standard on Oct. 15, 2006