Dawn M. Salamone-Kamens

Dawn Marie Salamone-Kamens passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 10, 2009, surrounded by her loving family at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA. She was 44. Dawn was a resident of Norristown, PA. Since the age of 12, she has been caring for the sick and elderly, volunteering at Mercy Suburban Hospital for several years. She also volunteered at Leader Nursing Home while attending Bishop Kenrick High School. She graduated from the former Bishop Kenrick High School, Class of 1984 and Montgomery Co. Community College, Class of 1988, receiving a degree in Social Work. Dawn worked as an activities director for Simpson House in Philadelphia, PA for the past 5 years, overseeing 5 of their homes. She wore many HATS, loved working there and had many friends, which they called family, always there for one another. Previously she worked at Senior Suites, Phoenixville Nursing Home, the former Montgomery County Assisted Living Services and several other homes over the years. She worked several years with the Visiting Nurses and the West Norriton Ambulance Squad and was a CPR trainer at Jefferson Hospital. Dawn was a member of St. Titus Church in E. Norriton, PA. She was also a board member of PAPA - the Pennsylvania Association of Professional Activities. Dawn was very active for 12 years in the Upper Merion Cancer Relay for Life, heading a team called Leap of Faith which raised several thousand dollars. She began the Bark for Life Relay and she was a member of a Labrador rescue group. She had two labs at present, which she called her girls. She also drove a bus for Romano's for several years and when driving into the city, she would bring clothes to those on the streets. Anyone who came in contact with Dawn immediately loved her. They became her friend for life, knowing they could count on her for anything, and she never refused anyone for anything. She always put others before herself. One of her biggest concerns was her grandmother who she was very close to. Dawn passed away after a short battle with cancer on Dec. 10th at Lankenau Hospital with her mother, father and aunt at her side. Born in Norristown, PA on May 20, 1965, she was the beloved daughter of Richard C. and Dolores M. (DeFillippo) Salamone of E. Norriton, PA. Surviving are her loving family including her parents; her husband of 18 years, Gene D. Kamens; maternal grandmother, Stella (Gribowski) DiFillippo of E. Norriton, PA; three step-sons, Alex Ames of Doylestown, PA, Steven Kamens of Bensalem, PA and Brian Kamens and his wife, Rachael of Pennsville, NJ; aunt, Jeanette Pultorak; aunt and uncle, Frances and Joe Salamone; and she adored her cousins, Cheryl Keidaisch and Christopher Pultorak. Relatives & friends are invited to her Funeral Mass at St. Titus Church, 3006 Keenwood Rd., E. Norriton, PA 19403 on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 11:00am. Her viewings are Monday evening from 6 to 8pm at The Bacchi-Courtney Funeral Home & Crematory, Ltd., 805 DeKalb St., Bridgeport, PA 19405 and Tuesday morning from 10 to 10:50am, at the church. Interment in St. Patrick's Cemetery, East Norriton, PA.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dawn's memory to the Montgomery County SPCA, 19 E. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken, PA 19428; the Upper Merion Relay for Life, Team Leap of Faith, 700 Horizon Circle, Suite 201, Chalfont, PA 18914; and/or Family Services of Montgomery Co., Project Hope, c/o Jonathan Harmon, 3125 Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19403.www.bacchicourtney.com