Jeanne D'Amato

Jeanne D'amato - master snack keeper, snazzy dresser, expert tour guide and queen of Christmas - passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family in Staten Island, New York on January 13th, 2023 after bravely battling Alzheimer's disease for over a decade.

Jeanne’s beautiful life started in Brooklyn, New York in 1944 to parents Michael and Marion Pinto. She was an excellent student and enjoyed a fruitful career as a Legal Secretary, but if you asked her, she would say her greatest achievement was her family.

Jeanne’s two wonderful daughters, Lynette Barbieri and Barbara Sherman, from her 25-year marriage to her first husband, Daniel Norton, were the joy of her life. She treasured spending as much time as possible with Lynette and Barbara, serving as their strongest supporter and unwavering source of unconditional love. There was nothing she wouldn't do for them, and even after they got married and started families of their own, she fret over them and extended her compassion to their spouses and children. She met Frank Damato just before starting the next chapter of her life as a grandmother, and the two were married until their divorce in 2018.

To her grandchildren, she was ‘Nini.’ Nini played an active role in the lives of her seven grandkids and took great pride in spoiling them for life. She looked forward to scooping them whenever she could and always made sure to play, REALLY play, and be fully engaged. She would color, play pretend, go on any rides her stomach could handle and splash around in the pool with them. She never missed an opportunity to cheer them on at a sporting event or school play. She especially cherished their trips to Lancaster, Hersheypark, and Land of Make Believe.

Jeanne was a master at cooking and hosting every holiday she could find an excuse to celebrate. Her main priority was making sure everyone had a good time, and she hardly ever accepted assistance.

Jeanne began experiencing odd symptoms in her 60’s that eventually lead to an Alzheimers diagnosis. Being the control freak that she was, she stubbornly fought the illness for over a decade in order to spend as much time with her family as possible.

Jeanne was accompanied by her closest loved ones as she passed into heaven, with her favorite song ("Memory" by Barry Manilow) playing over the speakers.

The chorus goes like this:

Memory

All alone in the moonlight

I can smile at the old days

It was beautiful then

I remember the time I knew what happiness was

Let the memory live again

What Jeanne may not have remembered in her later years, her family will never forget. They will smile at the old days when they think of ceiling-high stacks of Christmas presents, extravagant matching outfits, Easter bread and ice cream waffles. They will hold on to her laughter, warmth, charm, humor, and love. They will think of Jeanne often, and remember what happiness was.

Jeanne’s memory will live on through her children, Lynette Barbieri and Barbara Sherman, her son-in-laws, Michael Barbieri and Jeffrey Sherman, her grandchildren, Alexa Ralph, Jenna Taskin, Danielle Barbieri, Jake Sherman, Michael Barbieri, Dylan Sherman, and Victoria Barbieri, her great grandchildren, Siena Taskin and Aria Taskin, as well as extended family and her dearest friends whom she loved as family.

She joins her father, Michael Pinto, mother, Marion Pinto, and her brothers, Joseph and Charles Pinto, in Heaven.

Services to celebrate Jeanne’s life will be held at Casey Funeral Home located at 30 Nelson Ave in Staten Island NY on Tuesday January 17th from 4-7pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) so they can keep doing the critical work of advancing research and providing care and support for people with Alzheimer's.