Dina M. Gallese – 81 – formerly of 138 East Elm St., Hornell, died Monday afternoon (April 4, 2011) at the Rochester Presbyterian Home in Rochester, NY where she has resided for the past 4 years.

A native & life resident of Hornell, she was born September 8, 1929 and was the daughter of Massimino & Giovina (Radoccia) Ciancaglini. 

Dina was a graduate of St. Ann’s School and later graduated from Hornell High School (class of 1947).  Following high school, she was employed at the former Elmhurst Dairy and later worked as a sales clerk at the former Big N Department Store. 

She was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a lifelong member of St. Ann’s Church where she had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother.  She often volunteered her time at the church where she would help clean and also iron the Altar Cloths and Church Vestments. 

Dina, along with her friends, Rita Burdett, Jean Onorato and Mary Onorato, formed a “Neighborhood Bereavement Group” whose purpose was to help grieving families when someone died.  They, as a group, would prepare food and collect money for flowers to help these families in their time of need.  She enjoyed cooking, gardening and would spend countless hours going to garage sales & yard sales.

She was married to Dominic Gallese who died in 1970.  She was also preceded in death by her son, Dominic Gallese II who died in 2002; 3 sisters, Mary Paul, Angeline Roselli and Malvina Schiavi; 1 brother, Albert Ciancaglini.

Surviving are 3 daughters, Nicoletta “Nikki” (Bob) MacDonald of Rochester, Mary (Steve) Kellerson of Rochester and Teresa (Emil) Seliga of Endicott; 2 sons, Joe (Cindy) Gallese of Hornell and Donald Gallese of Sonyea; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews.

 The family of Dina M. Gallese will receive friends on Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 1:30 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY where a prayer service will be held at 1:30 PM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 2:00 PM at St. Ann’s Church.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Dina’s family request that memorial contributions in her name be made to Rochester Presbyterian Home, 256 Thurston Rd., Rochester, NY 14619 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620.  Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.