Jeanne D. Salmon

Portsmouth- It is with profound sorrow and a heart full of gratitude that we announce the peaceful passing of Jeanne Doyle Salmon on August 28, 2025, in Portsmouth, NH. At 94 years young, Jeanne’s radiant spirit and boundless love touched the lives of everyone she met, leaving a legacy of kindness, grace, and unwavering positivity. Born on March 3, 1931, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Coletta (DeMuth) Doyle, Jeanne was a bright light from the very beginning. She graduated from Sparta High School and from St. Mary’s Nursing School in Madison, Wisconsin. She found her soulmate in Robert Salmon while he was serving in the United States Air Force, and they shared 62 years until his passing in 2017. Their marriage was a beautiful testament to a shared life built on love and mutual support. Jeanne was a quiet supporter and a ready listener who had a unique gift for understanding. She always asked questions to delve deeper into any circumstance, not to offer advice, but to better help others. She gave lessons by her living example of compassion and grace, and she had an endless capacity to contribute to and understand her family, friends, neighbors, and her world. Her generosity was well known, often expressed through elaborate feasts she cooked to bring people together. A passionate Boston Red Sox fan, it’s entirely possible that Jeanne was the greatest fan in the world. Her contributions to her community were a constant over her life. A member of the League of Women Voters, Meals on Wheels volunteer, membership in several friends of libraries, she also served as president of the Parent Teacher Organization in her children’s elementary school. As a breast cancer survivor in Reach to Recovery, she guided others through their most challenging moments. The Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, honored her with a Resolution of Recognition for her dedicated, daily efforts to beautify her town for everyone by removing roadside litter. Jeanne was endlessly curious and a strong competitor. An avid athlete, she once broke the New Hampshire 5K running record for women in her age group and achieved a hole-in-one in golf. She skied all over the US and in the alps with her family. She was a voracious reader who, before the age of the internet, would check out piles of books to understand everything from the anxieties of middle schoolers to global conflicts. She was a dedicated nurse who worked at Beverly and Hunt hospitals in Massachusetts, and York Hospital in Maine. She was a lifelong, devout communicant of the Catholic Church. Above all else, Jeanne’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a cherished grandmother and great-grandmother. She adored her 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, who brought her immeasurable joy and pride. Her spirit, her endless guidance, and her unconditional love will continue to live on through them. Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her parents, Joseph and Coletta; her sisters, Eileen (Knothe) and Mary (Rafferty); her brothers, Patrick (Doyle) and John (Doyle) her brothers-in-law Jack Knothe, Hugh Rafferty, Dick Webster; sister-in-law Marianne Webster; nephew Phil Knothe; and her beloved daughter-in-law, Catie Salmon. She is survived by her daughters, Stephanie Stepanauskas (Daniel), Melissa McBride (Jack), Jane Palisin (Steve Merten); her sons, Michael Salmon and David (Dianne) Salmon; her sister-in-law Carlyn Doyle; twelve grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family is deeply grateful for the kindness and care of the staff at Wentworth Senior Living and Cornerstone Hospice. Remick and Gendron Funeral Home in Hampton, NH is providing services. A private mass will take place for family members this September. Memorial donations, if desired, are gratefully received by Massachusetts Audubon by clicking here or by planting a tree in her memory by clicking here

Jeanne D. Salmon

March 3, 1931 - August 28, 2025