Molly Dagon Andolina – 65 – of 24 Meadowbrook Rd., Arkport, died on Tuesday, March 15 following a long illness.

Born in Hornell on June 8, 1956, she was the daughter of Jim & Marieka “Rickey” (Plianos) Dagon.

Molly grew up in Hornell, attended St. Ann’s School then graduated from the Hornell High School (class of 1974).  Following her graduation, she attended Alfred State College and Simmons School of Embalming & Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY, obtaining her funeral director’s license upon graduation in 1976.

She began her career at Chase Funeral Home in Binghamton and spent 10 years actively in the operation of the Dagon Funeral Home in Hornell, working alongside her father & brother.  Molly was later employed by The Village of Arkport as an assistant clerk.

Molly was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church.   She was also a member of the Arkport American Legion Auxiliary, the Hornell Association, and the G. Carducci Lodge (Sons of Italy).  She was heavily involved with Arkport Junior Baseball where she enjoyed cheering on her kids and volunteering her time organizing and managing the concessions.

Molly always served as “The Neighborhood Mother,” welcoming all of her children’s friends who would come over to swim, play basketball and other sports, or to simply “hang out.”  Parents were always comfortable with their children going to the Andolina House, as Molly always took care of them as her own.

She (along with the entire Andolina family) was an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan.  As a loving mother, she always enjoyed attending her children’s sporting and school events.  She and her husband “adopted” their teams which later included the Alfred University Men’s Basketball team during four years when their son Nick was a member.  In recent years, she loved spending time during the winter in Southern Florida with her husband to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine.

Molly was a friend to anyone she met and all who knew her loved her.   Her amazing personality and endless sense of humor lightened up every room.  She treated everyone as if they were family or her best friend.  She will surely be missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim & Rickey Dagon; her daughter, Jillian “Jill” Andolina (2013); her niece, Sara Dagon (2019); her brother in law, Larry Clark (2017).

Molly was married in St. Ann’s Church on August 20, 1982 to Dr. Richard “Rick” Andolina who survives.  Also surviving are her 3 sons, Dr. Richard “Rick” Andolina Jr. of Hornell, Dr. Nicholas “Nick” (Jessica) Andolina of Manassas, VA, and Mitchell “Mitch” Andolina of Arkport; 4 sisters, Ellen Dagon of Hornell; Mary Clark of Hornell, Sally (Rich) Head of Hornell and Anne (Rich) Scavo of Hornell; 2 brothers, Jim (Patty) Dagon of Hornell and John (Karen) Dagon of Hornell; 3 grandchildren, Niko, Jillian & Remi; numerous nieces, nephews & cousins.

Molly’s family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 PM  –  5:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.  A Christian Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church followed by burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The Funeral Mass for Molly Andolina will be streamed live and can be viewed on the Dagon Funeral Home Facebook page on Monday at 10:00 AM by visiting www.facebook.com/dagonfuneralhome.  The video will remain available for viewing on our Facebook page for 30 days.

Molly’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to either the Hornell Humane Society (Jill Andolina Memorial Dog Park) 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843 or to St. Ann’s Academy, 41 Genesee St., Hornell, NY 14843, or to the Jill Andolina Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Arkport Central School, 35 East Ave., Arkport, NY 14807.  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.