Lena Liguori

Guilderland- Lena “Gigi” Liguori, 91, passed away on July 13, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Lena was born in Brooklyn, New York to the late Joseph and Jean DiGangi. She later moved to Long Island before settling in Albany in 1972. She retired from the New York State Department of Labor in 1995.

Lena had a wonderful childhood with her two younger sisters and forty-five first cousins. She passed down the love that her parents had for her and her sisters to her own children.

Lena met her late husband, Pat, when she was thirteen years old and then married him at age seventeen. They were married for seventy-one years before his passing. Together, they raised four beloved children. As a typical Italian mother, she often said, “You hungry? Sit down and taste this,” or “Are you warm enough? Where is your coat?” or “You look tired, go home and rest.”

Lena and Pat’s door was always open and once you stepped through it, you were expected to stay and eat. She was the happiest on Sundays when she never knew who might show up for the family dinner. She lived by the phrase, “The more the merrier.” Lena’s greatest joy in life was truly her family.

Even though she worked full time, she took pride in having a clean house and a full meal on the table every night. She always played music when she made homemade raviolis. She said that it made her roll the dough out faster.

After retirement, Lena and her husband moved to Ocala, Florida for a few years. While there, she learned belly dancing and proudly performed in parades. Lena was a devout Catholic who accepted Jesus Christ into her heart.

Lena was pre-deceased by her husband, Pat, in 2022, her son, Michael, in 1999, her two sisters, Angie Dagnese and Sylvia Amato, as well as her brother-in-law, Buddy Amato.

Lena is survived by her two sons, Joseph Liguori and Anthony (Tracy) Liguori, and daughter, Patricia (Thomas) Spawn; ten grandchildren: Joseph Liguori, Michael Liguori, Michele Liguori, Anthony (Nicole) Liguori, Patrick (Meghan) Liguori, Stacy (Craig) Maier, Paige (Joseph) Pierle, Christina (Austin) Rowland, Rachael (Zachary) Malison, and Anthony Liguori; and ten great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her dearest brother-in-law, Jack Dagnese, her dear cousin, Franny Villa, childhood friend, Tessie Chiafalo, and Gary (Sue) Schol, whom she considered a son, as well as many nieces and nephews.

To honor Lena’s wishes, services will be private.

In lieu, of flowers memorial donations can be made in Lena’s honor to St Jude Children Research Hospital Foundation.