Obituary of Anna Maria Amato

Anna Maria Amato (nee Verderame) age 61, of Totowa, NJ passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, August 3rd, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 17, 1961, in Serino, Avellino, Italy to the late Francesco and Maria Concetta (Pisacreta) Verderame. She immigrated to the United States in 1969 with her parents and younger sister Grace and resided in Paterson before moving to Totowa. She went to John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson then went on to study at Montclair State University and received a B.S in Marketing. She was the first in her family to receive a college degree. She owned and operated Amato Gift Boutique for many years and then Soccer Palace in West Orange and in Westfield NJ since 1998. Devoted Mother of Mattia and her husband Philip and Anthony and his wife Lindsay. Married to Sal Amato. Cherished Ma (grandmother) of Juliet Anna, Natalia, Giselle, Santino, Matteo and Olivia Anna. Dear sister of Grace Curcio and her husband Ralph. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, inlaws and friends who all loved her so very much. Anna Maria's love and dedication to her family was unwavering. Her steadfast loyalty, strong work ethic and family values will always live on through her surviving family. Anna Maria spent most of her free time babysitting her six beautiful grandchildren, sharing stories of wonderful family memories, teaching her granddaughters how to make old family recipes and giving wise advice and caring words of encouragement to anyone who needed it. She loved cooking and making her famous tiramisu. Her favorite thing in the world was having everyone in the family over for Sunday and holiday dinners. It was what she enjoyed the most in life and was truly the best at, gathering and keeping the whole family together. She loved and respected her big Italian family with all her heart both here and in Italy. She exemplified selflessness, always more concerned with the needs and wishes of others than with her own. At the same time she also exemplified resilience like no other, she fought her battle with cancer long and hard, motivated by the desire to overcome the odds for her family and won multiple times. Anyone who knew her will greatly miss her warm smile, gentle laugh and demeanor and deeply kind soul. May she rest in peace, always and forever in our hearts and minds. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa, on Monday at 12:45 PM. Funeral Mass at St. James RC Church, Totowa at 1:30 PM. Entombment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Mausoleum, Totowa. Friends may visit Monday 9:30 AM - 12:45 PM.