Nora Nellis

1938 - 2025

Nora Nellis

July 2, 1938 - January 31, 2025

QUEENSBURY - Nora (LaJoy) (Cole) Nellis, of Queensbury, our dear friend, succumbed to injuries sustained from an automobile accident passing away Friday, January 31, 2025.

Nora was born on July 2, 1938 in Glens Falls, N.Y. She was the only child of the late William and Pauline (LaPlanche) LaJoy.

She attended school in Glens Falls, graduating salutatorian of her class in Lake George in 1956.

She was briefly married to Warren Cole, the father of her only child, Stephen Cole. Stephen was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after birth, and Nora was devoted to bringing him up as a single parent, as well as doing multiple treatments to keep him alive. She was the founder of the first local chapter of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. She served as president and board member for several years.

Her work history began at age 16 when she worked summers and part time during the year at the Lake George Public Library. After graduation from high school, she was hired in the advertising department at the Glens Falls Insurance Company. At age 19 she was named assistant editor in their corporate publication, which was distributed nationally and abroad. While living in New York City she worked for the Fort Hamilton Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.

She was employed by the Glens Falls City Schools for 27 years, a position which allowed numerous opportunities for summer employment. These included the Glens Falls Hospital and The Post Star, where she was a regional editor. She was also personnel director at the Great Escape for several seasons. She served as editor of the Lake George Association's newsletter, a publication dedicated to the water quality of Lake George. She received a grant to produce a book of poetry drawing on family photos for inspiration. Professor and well-known writer, Jean Rikhoff, served as mentor for the project.

In 1980, she married Robert Nellis of Lake George. During those years she continued working for the Glens Falls schools while pursuing an associate degree in liberal arts at Adirondack Community College. She graduated with honors in 1987 and was awarded the Parnassus Award for Excellence in Poetry. Accepted by Skidmore College's external degree program, she was the recipient of numerous grants and scholarships including state and national awards from the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO). Her baccalaureate degree in English included publication of an epistolary novel of 1840s era Nellis family letters. That novel was later favorably reviewed by Syracuse University Press and quoted in a book entitled "How Young Ladies Became Girls," by Jane H. Hunter. As part of an internship for the Chapman Museum, she created and edited an educational kit for use in schools and libraries. Funding was provided through the New York State Council on the Arts and the Leo Beach Cox Philanthropic Organization. During these years, she received several SPOKES grants through the school system to teach writing workshops for children. She was on the founding committee and served as a mentor for an intergenerational writing workshop "Bridging the Years."

The New York State Writers Institute provided further studies in writing under the mentorship of Carolyn Forche. Included among the instructors were former poet laureate, Robert Pinsky.

Nora was the single recipient from a five-state area of a master's scholarship from the Golub Foundation. She was accepted by Vermont College of Norwich University where she received her M.A. in creative writing and women's studies in 1993. A portion of her thesis was published in an anthology titled "From the Listening Place, Languages of Intuition," edited by Margaret Blanchard. Her poems were included in a chapbook titled "Linking Roots," featuring writings by women of various ethnic backgrounds. Her work was published in numerous anthologies as well as feature articles for travel and tourism publications.

After retirement from the Glens Falls City School District in 1997, Nora continued working and pursuing more education. In 2006, she received certification in poetry therapy at a ceremony during the annual convention of the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) in Boston. She was adjunct professor at Adirondack Community College. She was named in the twenty fourth edition of "Who's Who of American Women."

Of all achievements, Nora was most proud of her son, Stephen. Cystic fibrosis was expected to take his life in infancy and many times thereafter. She was determined to provide him with the best care possible. He graduated from Glens Falls High School with honors and later from the College of St. Rose, summa cum laude, with a degree in communications arts. He was assistant marketing director for Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady. At age 39, in 2004, following a double lung transplant in 1999, Stephen succumbed to complications.

It was difficult for Nora to find impetus to continue, but she gained inspiration from her son's courage. For several years she worked at the Baker Funeral Home as a secretary-receptionist, the funeral home that had provided such caring and empathy during the deaths of her husband and son. Her writing never stopped, and she found great solace in it, as well as providing grief therapy writing groups.

For many years, she taught creative writing at the East Side Center for Warren/Washington Mental Health. It was a way of using writing as a therapeutic approach to wellbeing. She said that was the place she was always meant to be. Through a grant provided by the Glens Falls Foundation, she was able to edit a book of writers' work called the Saw Project, self-awareness through writing.

Nora and many of her colleagues of East Side Center would get together every month for a luncheon or outing becoming known as the Silver Panthers. Each one of these members were very special to her.

Nora was a two-time survivor of breast cancer in 1995 and 2009. Her writing about that appeared in an anthology called "Unbearable Uncertainty."

As well as her many educational achievements and her passion for writing, she also was an avid animal lover. She has rescued, fostered, and adopted many kinds of animals over the course of her lifetime. Her published book of poems is entitled "From the Family Album: Focusing the Lens Through Poetry and Photos."

Nora was predeceased by her parents, William and Pauline LaJoy; her second husband, Robert Nellis; and her son, Stephen Cole.

Nora's many friends will mourn her deeply. Her qualities were vast, her wit, intelligence and kindness have left a mark on us all. While we have lost a friend, the community has lost an advocate, a champion of all of those in need and a voice for those often silenced. We will forever remember you Nora and we are all better people for having you in our lives.

Donations in Nora's loving memory can be sent to Northeastern New York Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 22 Computer Drive West, Albany, NY 12205.

Visitation will take place Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette Street, Queensbury, NY 12804.

A funeral service will immediately follow at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Flossie Bates officiating.

Family and friends are invited to a gathering at Talk of the Town, 74 Hudson Ave., Glens Falls, NY 12801, at 4 p.m.

Condolences and floral arrangements may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.