Obituary of Romana Salvagni

Romana (Pasquali) Salvagni, 96, North Greenbush, surrounded by her family passed peacefully into eternal life at St. Peter’s Hospital on Thursday December 21, 2023.  Born on November 26, 1927 to Giuseppe and Valentina (Ranellucci) Pasquali in Maenza, Italy Romana attended school in Rome before immigrating to the United States in 1948.  After attending English and Citizenship classes with her best friend America Cardazzi they were proudly nationalized U.S. citizens.

A lifelong communicant of St. John’s Church in Rensselaer, Romana remained active in the St. Anthony Society where she was known as the longest living active member attending the annual mass and celebration every year.  Cooking was her passion and in addition to her contributions to the many church sponsored spaghetti suppers Romana cooked and baked for nearly every celebration among her many Italian-American friends.

Second only to cooking, Romana loved her trips to the casinos and her weekly Bingo games when  

she and her friends would gather to share news, stories, laughs and food.  Amazingly Romana made her last trip to the Saratoga Racino just 3 weeks prior to her passing.

Romana was predeceased by her husband of 70 years Leopold, her sister Angelina Tremarelli and her brother Sebastiano Pasquali.  She is survived by her son Frank Salvagni (Cathy), her daughter Linda Herbert, grandsons Jim Herbert, Jason Herbert and the love of her life great granddaughters Zoe and Francesca.  Also surviving are Romana’s brothers Pasquale Pasquali, Graziano Pasquali and numerous nieces and nephews who reside in Rome, Italy.

Our family would especially like to thank the staff of Van Rensselaer Manor B-2 for their loving care and to the staff of St. Peter’s 5 McCauley for their exceptional care and compassion that enabled our mother to comfortably rejoin those who have passed before her.

Family and friends are invited to call at the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home at 1700 Washington Avenue, Rensselaer, NY, on Wednesday December 27^th between the hours of 4:00 and 6:00 pm. Funeral will be from the funeral home on Thursday December 28^th at 9:30 am followed by a mass of Christian burial to celebrate Romana’s life at St. John and St. Joseph Church, Herrick St, Rensselaer.  Interment will follow the mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetary, Rensselaer, NY.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Romana’s memory to:

St. Anthony Society

St. John and St. Joseph Church

54 Herrick Street

Rensselaer, NY 12144