Andrew V. DIFIORE

DIFIORE, Andrew V.

Andrew V. DiFiore, 91, of Avon passed away peacefully on November 28, 2011. He was a loving and dedicated husband and father, married to Louise (Stockwell) DiFiore for 58 years, with whom he had 5 children. He is survived by his wife, Louise, Bob and Donna (DiFiore) Dreier, Andrea DiFiore, Don and Colleen DiFiore, John DiFiore and Christopher DiFiore. He also leaves 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, plus one brother, Vincent DiFiore, 101, of Las Vegas. He was the personification of the devoted husband and father; his paramount concern for and pride in his family are a legacy he has left his children and grandchildren. Andy was born at home in New York City on August 9, 1920, the youngest of 9 children of Cosimo DiFiore and Rosaria (Barone) DiFiore. He served his country during World War II as a Radio Operator, Sergeant, with the US Army Air Corp, serving in Japan and the Philippines as part of the Occupation Forces. After the war, he completed his degree at Manhattan College; he continued as an active alumnus. He also completed graduate work at New York University. He was a true New Yorker with cosmopolitan tastes and an extensive and informed knowledge of the food world. He also loved to shop for a bargain; his favorite 4-letter words were "free" and "sale". In later years he liked to recount seeing Babe Ruth play at Yankee Stadium and was most often seen with his Yankees cap. Andy was a communicant of Saint Ann's Church in Avon and earlier at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa Park, NY. As a lector and member of the choir, his strong resonant voice was enjoyed by many. Andy was the son of a baker and his first job out of college was at a macaroni company; he worked setting up restaurants before transitioning into the business machine world. He was a successful sales and marketing executive in New York City and later in Hartford. At the age of 62, he had the courage and tenacity to start his own successful business, combining his love for food and his flair for sales, at the DiFiore Pasta Co. on Franklin Ave in Hartford.. If you were a regular at DiFiore Pasta, you'd find yourself walking through the door and looking quickly to your left to see if he was sitting in his chair. The central interests of Andy's life were love of family, a love of food, firm friendships, and service to the community, whether as a veteran, church member, or service through Avon UNICO.
His family will receive friends Wednesday, (Nov 30), from 6-8 pm at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, (Dec. 1), 10 am directly at the Church of Saint Ann, 289 Arch Road, Avon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Masonicare Partners Hospice, PO Box 70 Wallingford, 06492 or to UNICO of Avon c/o the Carmon Funeral Home of Avon. For condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com