Luigi Serafini, 85, of Niskayuna, passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 following a long illness. His loving wife Angela was by his side.

Born on August 18, 1920 in Fotechiari, Province of Frosinone, Italy, he was the son of Angelantonio and Filomena Bianchi Serafini. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1937. Luigi soon moved to Schenectady where he was employed by ALCO for a period of 10 years. Luigi proudly served in the U.S. Army. In 1945, he married the former Angela Polsinelli at St. Anthony's Church in Schenectady. Luigi began working with his father-in-law in building homes and soon initiated the L. Serafini Builders Company (single family home construction). He partnered in the development of Fort Orange Manor in Westmere and later developed homes in Guilderland under Pine Hill Estates, Pine Bush Manor, Country Village and Spawn Hollow. Luigi's family all helped in the management of the business. For over 40 years, Luigi worked in the land development of greater Schenectady and Albany Counties including several developments in Niskayuna and Guilderland. Mr. Serafini actively retired in 1987 from L. Serafini and Sons Builders. Luigi was a member of St. Anthony's Church, its Holy Name Society and Laziale Society. He was president of the Guilderland Home Builder's Association and treasurer of the Schenectady Home Builders Association. Luigi was fond of family get-togethers, enjoyed hunting, tending to his garden, his fig trees, his grape vines and was known to make some fine wine.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Angela Polsinelli Serafini; his children, Philomena L. Husko and her husband Alan, Antonette A. Mykolaitis and her husband Victor, Angelo A. Serafini and his wife Maureen, all of Guilderland, and Rocco G. Serafini and his wife Ann of Niskayuna; grandfather of Suzanne Plue and her husband Joshua, Angela Mykolaitis, Louis, Helen, Olivia, Stoyka and Danase Serafini; great-grandfather of Nicholas Plue. Luigi is survived by his brothers, Michael Serafini and his wife Vita of Rexford, Frank Serafini and his wife Maria and a sister, Filomena DiCocco and her late husband Ercole. He was predeceased by his brother, Domenico Serafini, and is survived his sister-in-law Maria. Luigi was the brother-in-law of Biagio, Vincenza and Lucy Polsinelli, the late Philomena and Ben Valentine and Peter Polsinelli. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2005 at 10 a.m. from the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., East Glenville followed at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony's Church, 331 Seward Pl., where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends may call Friday, September 2, 2005 from 5-8 p.m. at the Glenville Funeral Home. Members of the Holy Name Society will meet at the funeral home for a service at 5 p.m. Entombment will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the church or to the American Diabetes Foundation.

The Serafini family would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. David Hornick and the private aides for the excellent care that Luigi received.