Obituary of Pedro Serrano

In the early morning of August 13, 2015 Pedro passed away from heart failure—and we have lost someone whose heart held room for many people. He was 81 years old. Pedro Serrano was born in Baranca-Bermeja, Colombia on July 17, 1934. He was the youngest child and only son of Pedro and Rosandilla Serrano. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his five older sisters: Graciela, who survives him in Colombia, Elvinia, Matilda, Marina and Victoria. He came to the United States in 1958 and married his first wife, Florentina (Leon) a year later. She passed away in 1988. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth who he married in 1992. They were married for twenty-three years until his death. His dedication to his family began with their three sons Russell, Henry and Peter but also extended to his wife's nephew, Steven Leon. His definition of family was always generous and his heart was big enough to leave room for so many as he also built a successful life. Initially, Pedro was a chauffeur for a Mt. Kisco lawyer; through his hard work and determination in this and other endeavors, in 1972 he and Florentina achieved their goal of owning their own business when they opened a store, Tom's Market at 99½ Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie. In 1979, they sold the market to open Ardonia Market on Route 44/55 in Ardonia. Seven years later, Pedro and his wife sold Ardonia Market and opened Poughkeepsie Wholesalers, a warehouse and distributor of groceries for area markets. The Serrano family ran this business until 1996, when Pedro retired. He will be much missed for his sense of humor and his wisdom. Pedro was well-liked by the many people he met through his career as a businessman, who remember him even decades later with fondness and appreciation for his generosity. Because he was so generous in his friendship, so open to others, he leaves a long list of people whose lives he has touched. He will be deeply missed by son Henry and wife Sondra Youdelman; son Russell; and son Peter and wife Heidi and their daughter Clara; a nephew, Steven Leon and his wife Tina, and their son Marcus. Pedro's sense of family meant Elizabeth's adult children became his family as well. He will also be deeply missed by Patricia Mathis and husband Will and their children Kortney, Olivia, Cheyenne, and Willie; Jimmy Manning and his children Taylor, Alexis, and Derek; Joann and husband Jim Rosso and a son Clint McKenna. Pedro loved his eighteen grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. Other who are part of his large and loving family: Vicky Manning, niece Gladys and husband Rosario Arcuri, and nephew Augusto, Monita Garret, Christine Raymo, Baudilio (Jimmy) Leon. Services will be held at 10 am on Thursday, August 20, Saint Augustine's Church, 55 Main Street, Highland NY. Funeral arrangements are under the Direction of the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home 371 Hooker Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York 12603