Ann DiCerbo

OLEAN — Ann DiCerbo, 77, of West River Road, Olean, passed away Wednesday (Aug. 7, 2024) at Olean General Hospital, after a courageous fight.

She was born Sept. 27, 1946, in Olean, the daughter of the late Bernard and Helen Gill. Ann attended Olean High School and graduated in 1964. She continued her education at Georgian Court University in New Jersey, graduating in 1968 with a dual degree in education and Spanish.

On Aug. 2, 1969, she married Nicholas A. DiCerbo at Saint Mary of the Angels Church in Olean. The couple celebrated 55 years of marriage last week.
Following college, Ann was employed as a teacher, first in Portville, then in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She supported her husband as he completed Creighton University law school and his service in the U.S. Army.

The couple then returned to Olean, where Ann was an ardent supporter of Catholic education, serving as longtime, active volunteer at Saint Mary of the Angels, Southern Tier Catholic School and Archbishop Walsh as well as at Genesis House. She later worked as office manager alongside her husband and son Nicholas Jr. at DiCerbo & Palumbo, attorneys at law. Ann had many colleagues and friends in the legal and banking community.

Ann loved spending time with her grandchildren, attending their many events and activities, cooking Sunday dinners for her whole family and gathering family together on her two favorite holidays, Christmas Eve and July 3rd at Cuba Lake.

Her family was the center of her life.

She is survived by her husband, Nicholas, Sr.; and their four children, Nicholas Jr. (Maureen) of Olean, Angela (Steve) Mest of Olean, Anthony (Colleen) of Hamburg and Christopher (Nikki) of Olean; as well as nine grandchildren, who truly were the light of her life: Sam, Anna and Joe Mest, Giovanni, Vena, Lauren, Ryan, Dominic and Luca Gill DiCerbo. In addition, Ann is survived by her sisters, Mary Ellen Purkis and Colleen Andora, both of New Jersey. She also has several loving nephews and nieces.

She was predeceased by her brother, Bernard Patrick. 

The family will welcome guests for visitation from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday (Aug. 12, 2024) at the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State St., Olean. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 13, 2024) at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. Interment will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Ann’s memory to the Olean General Hospital Foundation; the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels; and the Flaum Eye Institute at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Online condolences may be made at www.guentherfh.com.