Elizabeth Josephine Johnston (Salm)

ELIZABETH JOHNSTON JANUARY 23, 1921 - JANUARY 2, 2014 Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Johnston, 92, of Daniel Island, SC, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 12:30am on Thursday, January 2. Born on January 23, 1921, Betty grew up in Ridgewood, NY, and attended Saint Matthias Catholic school in Queens. While still in high school she met her future husband, Bob, at a school dance. Betty and Bob were married on April 11, 1943. Before age and illnesses overtook her youthful spirit, Betty had been blessed with a remarkably long, full and active life. Betty and her husband were a longtime residents of Wolf Hollow in Syracuse, and also lived in Queens, NY, Cortland, NY, Binghamton, NY, and Bradenton, FL. She is remembered fondly by friends and neighbors as classy and sociable, always enjoying life to the fullest, and always ready to entertain. The kitchen was where Betty felt most at home, and she enjoyed a well-earned reputation for serving gourmet dinners to family and guests. She was also a consummate and creative homemaker; taking great pride in decorating her various residences. Throughout her life Betty felt a deep kinship with nature. She was a lover of all animals, kept a number of dogs and cats over the years, and in her younger years she was an avid bird-watcher. In recent years Betty donated regularly to a number of animal rescue organizations. Her love of nature also manifested itself in her artistry with gardening, surrounding her home in Syracuse with ever beautiful flower beds and plantings. In her free time Betty loved to do crossword puzzles, and was an accomplished bridge player. Her hands were never still, and in her leisure hours she would create hand-knit sweaters, crocheted table cloths, and hand-sewn garments. Betty and Bob also enjoyed the excitement of travel, making journeys to Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean Islands, Canada, Alaska, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany and France. Elizabeth Josephine Salm was the daughter of August and Marie Salm of Queens, NY. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Robert J. Johnston; two sons, Robert J. Johnston Jr and wife Patricia A. Norcross Johnston of Daniel Island, and Jeffrey F. Johnston of Alfred, NY; Granddaughters Mary Elizabeth Johnston Collier and husband Andrew Collier and Rachel Johnston Pires and husband A. J. Pires; grandsons, Brian Johnston and wife Wendy Abrahams Johnston, and Robert J. Johnston III and wife Jennifer Meredith Johnston; and 8 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Alexander, Charles, Brady, Buchan, Meredith, Jack and Isla. Also surviving is a niece, Karen Gates of Troy, MI. and four grand nephews and nieces: Katy Gregory, Brian Gates, Scott Gates and Katie Gates. Betty’s younger sister, Marie O’Connell, preceded her in death. A memorial service for immediate family will be held Wednesday, January 8, at 10:00am in Stella Maris Catholic Church on Sullivan’s Island. Interment at Saint Benedict’s Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant will immediately follow the services. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

Service:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014