Mrs. Victoria Marie (Griffin) Dineen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

UTICA – Mrs. Victoria Marie (Griffin) Dineen, age 76, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 11, 2022 at MVHS at St. Elizabeth Medical Center with her loving family by her side. Victoria was born in Richfield Springs, New York, on September 2, 1945, the daughter of the late Leo and May (Miller) Griffin. Victoria was raised and educated in the towns of Richfield Springs and Ilion. Victoria was previously married to Anthony Biamonte, the father of her two children, Angela Marie Biamonte and John Anthony Biamonte. She was grateful to be a stay-at-home mother where she could be the “homemaker” of the house, providing her children with much love and support. Victoria would say that she was lucky to have found a new love later in life when she married Thomas Dineen, who she would spend the rest of her time on this Earth with. She enjoyed going on long walks and dancing at local night clubs with her husband Thomas, where they would practice waltzing and the jitterbug. Victoria and Thomas shared an equal passion for their Irish Heritage. Thomas even wore a kilt at their wedding which was followed by a two-week honeymoon to Ireland. Victoria had many careers throughout her journey of life, her last being a Bus Monitor for Bernie Bus Company Inc. Although work brought a sense of integrity into Victoria’s life, no career compared to the love she shared being the grandmother to her only grandson, Ryan Anthony Biamonte. She shared a special relationship with her grandson, who preceded Victoria within the same week. She would say that Ryan was the light of her life as they did everything together and she could always count on Ryan to be a call away for help, no matter the circumstances. During her early years in life, Victoria would often be found with her dearest friends by her side. Dating back to the early 70’s, she had an unbreakable bond with a close group of friends spread throughout Cedarbrook Crescent in North Utica. In spite of the ups and downs they all shared in life, they were inseparable. Some would say that a book could be written on all their adventures. These close friends included, Antoinette Talerico, Linda Intino, Joanne Destafano, and Jan Rumbutis. Later into Victoria’s adult life, these Golden Girls adventures turned into daily, highly competitive games of Yahtzee, as she did not like to lose. “We will miss our games with “Vicky” as well as all the wonderful memories of life around Cedarbrook Crescent. Rest in peace our special friend.” Vicky also participated in the sport of bowling in a league at Pin-O-Rama. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Stanley Theatre. Along with Yahtzee, Victoria began to enjoy the little things in life from puzzles, crosswords, cards, and bingo, to gardening, creating flower beds and growing tomatoes. You could often find her listening to a mixture of older country music and Irish music. Her all-time favorite song was “Danny Boy”, an old Irish classic. Victoria’s family remembers packing eight people into the Cadillac for summer vacations to the Jersey Shore (Wildwood). One of Victoria’s favorite memories was of Italian Family Sunday Dinners at Non (Beatrice) and Pop’s (John). Her love for cooking and baking was personally taught to her from her Non. Some of their best dishes included lasagna, chicken cutlets, and homemade sauce. Victoria shared a silly love for cats, especially her cat Finnegan, an Irish name of course! She would often ask her son, John, and his wife, Elaine, about their cats during every phone call that they shared together, making sure they would send her recent photos of them. In the course of these last final years, Victoria’s family never allowed for distance to get in between the love and care that they all shared for one another. Her grandson, Ryan, took gracious care of his grandmother while her children lived out of state. Her daughter, Angela, and her loving husband, Scott Bowers, and her son, John, and his caring wife, Elaine Biamonte, would always provide great comfort and company to Victoria throughout their many trips back and forth from their homes in Delaware and North Carolina. Victoria’s children made sure she never went without home care and cleaning services. Victoria shared all of her knowledge of motherhood to her daughter, Angela, and shared all she knew about baseball and auto racing with her son, John. John and Elaine are forever grateful that Victoria made it to their wedding in Florida. She also loved her children-in-law, Scott and Elaine, like they were her own. Victoria never went without asking about Scott's son, Ty Bowers. Victoria is survived by her husband, Thomas Dineen; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Scott Bowers; son and daughter-in-law, John and Elaine Biamonte; sisters, Vivian McGraw, and Mary Moore. Victoria held close to her heart her grandson, Ryan Anthony Biamonte, who preceded her only 4 days prior to her passing, on Monday, February 7, 2022. She especially enjoyed a close bond with her sister, Gloria Smaldone of Ilion and her loving family, Tony Smaldone, Gloria’s husband, Gloria’s children, Lisa, Steven, Barry, and Gloria’s 2 grandsons, Alan Annuntto and Alex Smaldone. Victoria was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, brothers, Ed and Leo Griffin; and her sisters, Gloria Smaldone, Dorothy Rowlands, Pat Brownell and Doris Griffin. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Victoria’s Memorial Mass of Christina Burial which will be held on Friday morning, June 3, 2022 at 11:00 at Mary, Mother of Our Savior Parish, Lourdes Campus, 2222 Genesee Street, Utica. There will be an opportunity to greet the family at the conclusion of the Mass. The needs of the family have been entrusted to the care of the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc.

Mrs. Victoria Marie (Griffin) Dineen

September 2, 1945 - February 11, 2022