It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Pedro C. Dinio, Jr., 89, who peacefully passed away at home, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. He is now reunited with the love of his life, Thelma, married for 56 years and their everlasting love story continues.

Born and raised in Angat, Bulacan, Philippines, Pedro (Pedrito, Ito, Diko) was the second oldest of four children and immigrated to the United States in 1975 to Perth Amboy, NJ, with his two children, a year after his beloved wife, Thelma. He and his family lived in Hopelawn and Keasbey, and eventually purchased a home in Perth Amboy where they lived happily for 33 years. He was a brilliant and talented mechanic (completely self-taught) and initially worked for GM and Chevrolet, where he purchased his first car – a beautiful, bright red 1975 Chevy Nova, which he cherished and passed on to his children. He then worked for Mueller’s Pasta Factory (which later became Best Foods) in Jersey City as a machine operator for many years, where he happily retired from in 1998 when his first grandchild was born, as he eagerly transitioned to his new and most prized role as “Lolo”.           

An enthusiastic collector of model cars, Matchbox cars, Hot Wheels, and Hess trucks, one of his favorite pastimes was thrifting with his wife and taking weekly trips to Englishtown Flea Market and neighborhood garage sales on the weekends, where they filled their home with all their treasured “finds”. He was an amazing cook who thoroughly enjoyed cooking for his family and friends – mostly delicious Filipino favorites (he was famous for his “lumpia” eggrolls and “palitaw” sweet rice cake dessert) and made the best chicken nuggets. He loved watching cooking shows and experimenting by combining recipes to create interesting dishes, with his grandchildren as his willing taste-testers. He loved game shows, like Jeopardy and Press Your Luck, but his all-time favorite was Wheel of Fortune, where he excelled in solving the puzzles before the contestants. He loved war movies and has watched every James Bond movie countless times. He loved music and had an extensive collection of vinyl records from all years and genres. He loved sports, especially watching the Celtics and Lakers rivalry back in the 1980s with Larry Bird vs Magic Johnson.  He was the designated videographer at family events and celebrations and enjoyed documenting those special moments. 

Pedro was a hard-working, prideful yet extremely humble man.  He was kind, loving, generous and selfless. He was smart, sensitive and funny. He considered himself a “rich man”, not in materialistic things or monetarily, but in all the things he held dearest, deepest, and closest to his heart. Most of all, he lived by and led by the saying, “Una ang pamilya”, which means family first - above all, and always. Throughout his lifetime, the decisions he made, ALL the sacrifices he made, how he raised his children/grandchildren, and the beautiful legacy he leaves behind, are all proof that family comes first.

Pedro is predeceased by his wife, Thelma Dinio, who passed in March of this year. Surviving are his loving children: Anna Mae Dinio-Bloch and her husband Brian, and Wendell Dinio and his wife Patricia. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren and was a devoted “Lolo” to Julian and wife Maria, Jayden, Jameson, and Liam and his great granddaughter, Carolina Cruz; along with a host of family and friends in the United States, Philippines, and beyond.

Pedro loved his family deeply (immediate and extended), and was beloved in return, and he will be missed immeasurably by all who were fortunate enough to know him. 

Family and friends may gather on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 from 5-8PM in the Piscataway Funeral Home, 18 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854. 

Funeral services will begin on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 9AM in the funeral home following a funeral mass to be celebrated at 10 AM in Our Lady of Fatima RC Church, Piscataway. Burial will follow in Resurrection Burial Park, Piscataway.

All are welcome to join the family for a repast at Pho Today, 101 New World Way, South Plainfield, NJ, 07080, immediately following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pedro's memory to the American Lung Association, www.lung.org