Leo Digesare

Guilderland - Elio "Leo" DiGesare, 88, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday November 2, 2015 with his entire family by his side. Born in Schenectady, Leo served our country in the Army/Air Corps from 1944-1946. In 1948 he opened several businesses and in 1950 he started DiGesare Plumbing & Heating. Leo's sons entered the business in 1974 and in 1980 he retired to spend winters in Florida always working side jobs and his garden when he returned. Leo was a longtime member of Calvary Tabernacle Church and more recently at Bethel Full Gospel Church. His love for the Lord was evident in so many ways especially by his volunteering at the Schenectady City Mission which ended only 6 months ago and his many mission trips to mention a few. Leo is survived by his wife of 65 years and 1 and only girlfriend, Elizabeth (Betty) Franco DiGesare. His 3 sons; David (Susan) DiGesare, Dennis (Rosebud) DiGesare and Michael (Annette) DiGesare 10 grandchildren; Alicia (Paul) Amedore, Jaimee (Sean) Willcoxon, Jennifer (Greg) DeLorenzo, Ashley (Paul) Hodorowski, Dendi (John) Hodorowski, Dana (Gregory) Van Dyke, Dennis (Vanessa) DiGesare, Michael (Kourtney) DiGesare, Matthew DiGesare and girlfriend Briana Corradi, and Marisa (Christopher) DiCocco He is also survived by 27 great-grandchildren. Calling hours will be held Wednesday (today) from 4-7 p.m. at DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home 1605 Helderberg Ave., Rotterdam. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at Open Arms Church 2714 Curry Rd., Rotterdam. Burial with military honors will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, Colonie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Leo's memory to Bethel Full Gospel Church Building Fund, 3669 Guilderland Ave., Schenectady, NY 12306.