Obituary of Domenico V. DiIorio

Domenico (Dominick) V. DiIorio was born on January 19, 1919 in Cortland to Jaspare and Maria Baldassarre DiIorio. He passed November 1, 2018 at the age of 99. He graduated from Cortland High School, then continued his education at Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (now known as Rochester Institute of Technology), where he graduated in 1939. He served in the United States Army during World War II, seeing action in Europe and Africa, until his discharge in October 1945. After the war, he opened up DiIorio Sign Shop, which was located on South Main Street in Cortland, near his family's business, The Melodyland Restaurant. During his career, he hand-painted many signs for local businesses and was the first artist in the area to create neon signs. Many of his neon signs were on exhibit at an art gallery on Main Street in Cortland, but were destroyed in a 2005 fire at the building. In 1982, he married his second wife, Ann Connell, who preceded him in death in 2011. He is survived by his brother, Americo DiIorio, many nieces and nephews, including Janet (Alan) Silvers and Ray DiIorio; Ann's children, Karen (Richard) Burleigh and Andrea (Frank) Siedlicki and their families. He was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Antionette (Eugene) Leombruno, Michael (Anita), Frank (Ruth) and John (Ann) DiIorio A calling hour will be held Monday 1-1:45 pm with a funeral service to begin 2 pm at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home Inc., 9 Lincoln Ave., Cortland NY with Fr. Joseph Zareski presiding. Burial with military honors will follow at the St. Mary's Cemetery, Cortland. The family requests no flowers. If you wish, you may make a contribution to the DAV, 91 Owego St, Cortland, the SPCA, 879 McLean Rd, Cortland or Cortland Loaves & Fishes, 13 Court St, Cortland.