Obituary of Fr. Andrew F. Giardino

Fr. Andrew F. Giardino, OFM HARTFORD,CT/GENEVA- Fr. Andrew F. Giardino, OFM, 86, a professed Franciscan friar for 60 years and a priest for 54, died on July 30, 2016, at St. Mary Home in West Hartford, Conn. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fri. (Aug. 5), at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, 130 Exchange St. Geneva. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 p.m. in the church. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Fr. Giardino was born Joseph Francis in East Rochester, N.Y., on April 13, 1930, to Dominic and Mary (nee Morabito) Giardino. After graduating from Geneva High School in Geneva, N.Y., in 1946, he entered St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., where he studied for six years. He was received into the Order of Friars Minor, Holy Name Province, on July 14, 1955, in Lafayette, N.J., and professed first vows there the next year. He studied philosophy at St. Francis College in Rye Beach, N.H., earning a bachelor's degree from St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y., in 1958. He went on to study theology at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C., for four years. He professed final vows on Aug. 18, 1959, and was ordained to the priesthood in Washington on March 17, 1962. Fr. Giardino's first assignment in 1963 was to St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Mass., where he served as assistant treasurer and then treasurer for seven years. In 1970, he relocated to Providence, R.I., where he was guardian and rector at St. Francis Chapel for an additional seven years. Named coordinator of personnel for the Province in 1977, he relocated to St. Francis Friary in New York City, and remained there for two years. Returning to Boston in 1979, Fr. Giardino served as guardian and rector of St. Anthony Shrine for three years. In 1982, he relocated to New York City for an additional two years as coordinator of personnel. Then, in 1985, he became a member of the pastoral team at St. Francis Parish in Wanaque, N.J., where he ministered for five years. In 1990, Fr. Giardino was assigned to St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church-Friary in Hartford as parochial vicar and treasurer, and served in that capacity for three years. He returned to St. Francis Chapel in 1993, where he was guardian and rector for two years. He was then reassigned to St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in 1995, and remained there as parochial vicar and treasurer for 21 years. Fr. Giardino served on the Provincial Council from 1970 to 1976, from 1979 to 1982, and from 1982 to 1985. He was general visitor to Immaculate Conception Province in 2000. He is survived by a sister, Marie Combs and brother, Dominic Giardino, both of Geneva, N.Y., and a brother, Anthony Giardino of Seneca Falls, N.Y. Memorial donations may be sent to Franciscan Friars — Holy Name Province, 144 West 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001-3202.