Thomas F. Diego

Thomas F. Diego, 71 of Auburn passed away peacefully early Sunday morning August 4,2019 in the comfort of his home , after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer  , surrounded by his loving family.
He was a life resident of Auburn, the son of the late Nick and Carmella Calverese Diego. Tom graduated from Central High School and received a degree in Criminal Justice from C.C.C. Tom was a US Army veteran having served our country honorably during the Vietnam War. He retired after more than 25years of service as a corrections officer for the Auburn Correctional Facility . Tom would continue to work for more than ten years at Auburn Community Hospital in their security department.
  In his earlier years he worked alongside his father Nick in the family run, Diego’s Moving business.  Tom enjoyed playing city league basketball and baseball , which he played until the age of 68.  He was an avid Cleveland Browns and New York Yankees sports fan. He was a proud member of the Monday Night Football Crew for over 35 years and especially loved to cruise around town in one of his pristine  Mustangs.
He is survived by his  best friend and soulmate Joanne Charles , his loving children, Scott ( Emily) Diego, Craig ( Theresa) Diego, Nick Diego, Denise ( Tom) Passarello T. J. ( Nicole) Diego , ten grandchildren Marybeth, Sara, Kaitlyn, Elizabeth, Craig Jr.,Hannah, Aiden Diego, Josh, Carly and Thomas Passarello, a great- grandson Joshua, a sister Patty Frazier of TX, two brothers Nicholas Diego of Auburn, Ron ( Lori) Diego of Delmar, the mother of his kids Mary Diego, best friend Pete Mulvey,  as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by a granddaughter Laura.
Calling hours are this Tuesday from 4-7 pm in Pettigrass Funeral Home, 196 Genesee St.
Friends are invited to join the family for Tom’s mass of Christian burial , Wednesday at 9:30 am in St. Alphonsus Church. 
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to either the SPCA,  Hospice of CNY or Saint Alphonsus food pantry.
If Tom had one last thing to say it would be, 'That's the Spirit' and 'Never Give Up' !
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas F. Diego, please visit our floral store.