Virginia Amato, 95, originally from Brooklyn, NY, passed away on Wednesday, April 12th 2017 in Eatontown, NJ.
Virginia was born on September 8, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY to Christopher and Concetta Giordano. On February 8, 1942, she married the love of her life, Paul Frank Amato, in Our Lady of Peace Church, Brooklyn, NY. Raising four children, Virginia was a homemaker until the passing of her beloved husband, a soldier, in 1962. After his death and in order to provide for her sons and daughters, she took over the family salumera, The Italian American Deli. During this time, Virginia was a parishioner at St. Dominic’s in Brooklyn. After working for many years in the salumera, she then worked as a medical office receptionist for Dr. Shlomo Manor in Manhattan. Working until the age of 80, Virginia retired to Central New Jersey, where most of her children and grandchildren reside. She moved into The Atria in Tinton Falls. She also became a member of St. Michael’s Parish in Long Branch, NJ where she continued the rest of her life as a devout Catholic.
The most important part of Virgina’s life was her family. With the love she had for each family member, there was nothing Virginia couldn’t do. She thrived on each and every member of the family. He legacy is that she was the ultimate Matriarch of the Amato’s.
Virginia was also blessed with the love of others. She had a remarkable gift of touching the hearts and souls of everyone with whom she came in contact. As a result, every person that knew her felt this love.
Above all of this, was her love of God. She lived every day of her life an example of this faith and devotion! Everyone in her life knew of her relationship with God. Virginia has passed to the holy grounds for which she had longed. She now sits as an angel, with not only her husband, but those who nurtured her to be the person we will always know, love, and remember her to be.
Virginia was preceded in death by her most beloved husband, Paul. She lived 55 years of her life without him. Never once did her love for him fade. The family is now happy that they are now reunited in heaven. Virginia is also predeceased by her parents and siblings, Thomas Giordano, Henry Giordano, Sam (aka “Boe” ) Giordano and Mary Gallo. Each of them held a special place in her heart. She spoke of them often. They came back to her in vivid memories during her final days.
Virginia is survived by her four children Francine Insalaco, Stephen (Susan) Amato, Christopher (Patricia) Amato, Paula (Keith) Leonard. She is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, Paul (Jessica) Insalaco, Jodi (Sebastian) Lorefice, Alyssa Amato, Elizabeth Amato, Lindsay (Jayme) Singer, Joseph (Joanna ) Amato, Christopher (Jamie) Amato, Daniel (Laura) Amato, Michael (Jennifer) Amato, Jessican (Edward) Woodruff, Matthew Amato, Thomas Amato, Keith Leonard, Luke Leonard, Lana Leonard. Virginia is also survived by six plus great grandchildren: Sebastian Lorefice, Julia Lorefice, Andre Insalaco, Joshua Amato, Emma Woodruff, Gianni Amato, and baby girl Amato due in June.


With sad, yet full hearts, the family of Virginia wishes to extend their sincere thanks to all of her caretakers including the staff at Genesis HealthCare Jersey Shore Center, Meridian Hospice, Dr. Suhas Patel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Mary’s Place By The Sea, 22 Main Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ 07756. https://www.marysplacebythesea.org

Visitation will be 9:00-10:00 AM on Monday April 17, 2017 at Fiore Funeral Home Oakhurst, NJ.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday April 17 at St. Michael’s Church in Long Branch, NJ. Burial will follow at 2:00 at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY where she will be laid to rest with her husband.