| Date of Birth | November 16, 1929 |
| Passed Away | May 15, 2026 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | May 28, 2026 |
| Service Time | 10 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Ann's Cemetery |
Ambrose A. “Andy” Di Dio
HORNELL – Ambrose A. “Andy” DiDio, 96, of Riverside Place, went home to be with Jesus and his loving and devoted wife, Margaret “Margie” and all his family members who went before him, on Friday morning (May 15, 2026) at St. James Hospital in Hornell.
Born in Rochester, NY on Nov. 16, 1929 he was the son of the late Joseph and Josephine (Gangi) Di Dio. On Aug. 4, 1956 he was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to Margaret “Margie” (Messina) Di Dio, she predeceased him on Aug. 18, 2025 after 69 years of marriage. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by four sisters, Mary (Dominic) Parrone, Sarah (John) Fedele, Rose (Tony) Bennett and Connie (Chris) Rivoli.
A resident of Hornell for most of his life, Andy was a graduate of East High School in Rochester and the Rochester Radio and Television School. From 1951 to his honorable discharge in 1953 he proudly served his country with the U.S. Army.
After moving to Hornell, he became employed with the former WWHG Radio Station, the former Sears Roebuck store and Jim Griffin Television Service. On Dec. 4, 1967 the Griffin & Di Dio TV Sales and Service opened on Main St. in Hornell. Andy eventually became the owner along with his wife and moved the location to their home on Riverside Place before retiring.
Andy was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell, a member of the Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of the Carducci Lodge in Hornell, the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 and the Cpl. J.J. Mooney VFW Post 2250 in Hornell.
Andy was a well-known figure and frequently mentioned in news articles for his community involvement and golfing achievements. He was a long-time fixture and mainstay at Twin Hickory Golf Club in Hornell where his holes-in-one were distributed across the course as follows, 3 on the fourth hole, 2 on the ninth hole (including a celebrated hole-in-one he hit with a 3-wood in 2016 at the age of 86) and 1 on the seventh hole. He participated in numerous tournaments over the years and could often be seen hitting wiffle balls in from of his home year-round, using colored balls in the winter months so he could locate them in the snow. Andy was also an avid bowler and scored his first 300 game on March 19, 1996.
He enjoyed playing cards, especially solitaire and was very proud of his vegetable garden they he grew every year at his home. He loved spending time outdoors and liked the warm and sunny days. Italian food was Andy’s favorite along with sweets. He cherished the times he spent with his family. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Andy is lovingly survived by five children, Mary Ann Di Dio (Thomas Flansburg) of Cohocton, NY, Joseph A. (Monica) Di Dio of Stafford, VA, James G. (Cindy) Di Dio of Bedford, TX, John P. Di Dio (Annette Freeland) of Hornell and Elizabeth A. “Beth” (Steven) Turner of Rochester, NY; 18 grandchildren, Nicholas (Nyki) Karns-McManus, Grady McManus, Cailey (Vincent) Taylor, Ashleigh (Eric) Wintersteen, Alexander (Lauren) Di Dio, Amelia (Matthew) Adams, Addison (Emily) Di Dio, Alden Di Dio, Nina (Shane) Pryor, Andy (Andrea) Di Dio, Jason Di Dio, Candice (James) Thornberg, Connor Di Dio, Briana (Brendan) Norman, Carson, Trevor, Paul DiDio, Kelsey (Vinny) Guida; 27 great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Joseph Messina of Boston, MA; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are 4-6 p.m. WEDNESDAY (May 27, 2026) at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell. Relatives and friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ann’s Church, 35 Erie Ave., Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. THURSDAY (May 28, 2026). Committal prayers, with full military honors, will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Hornell.
The United States flag and the Army flag will proudly fly at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto funeral Home in recognition of his military service.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home and church.
The Bishop-Johnson & Desanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Andy’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Andy are welcome below or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & Desanto Funeral Home.
