Beatrice M Amato

Bea was born with a passion for dancing and fashion. Though she lived on a farm in Great Bridge, VA, she couldn’t wait to get to the city! After high school, she became a licensed cosmetologist in 1939. While working as a hairdresser, she and her sister spent many evenings at the USO during World War II dancing with the men in the military. At one of those dances, she met a handsome Coast Guardsman from Missouri, the Show Me State. Ney Amato proposed and Bea accepted! They married in 1943. That boy from Missouri showed her a wonderful, loving, and eventful life for the next 60 years!

Their only son, Paul, was born in mid-1944, and boy did that change things!

Bea worked part time as a hairdresser in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and was a devoted mom, a wonderful homemaker and an extraordinary hostess! Bea and Ney lived in their Virginia Beach home for 30 years, where they were involved in area charities, civic and school activities, and the Thalia Garden Club.

Because of her love for the beach and the sunshine, and his love of golf, they moved to a retirement community in Florida. At Timber Pines, they made many new friends while socializing at parties, dances, card games, bocce ball, and golf.

After Ney’s death in 2003, Bea moved back to the Norfolk area to live with and assist her older sister Cil, who was also recently widowed. After her sister's passing, Bea began to look for a retirement community. She found it in 2010 at Lake Seminole Square, which was 10 minutes away from her son and daughter-in-law. There she found activities and friends to keep her busy. She always bragged that it was “The best retirement community in the world”. During the past seven years at Lake Seminole Square’s Assisted Living Facility, though diagnosed with dementia, she continue to enjoy dancing, Wii bowling, bingo, and the musical performances by Mark Ralston and others. She received excellent care until the end of her life.

Bea always enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and her great grandchildren who would often surprise her on birthdays and special occasions. There were always fun times when the kids were around. She enjoyed attending special services at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks with her family.

Bea never lost her passion for dancing or fashion. Weekly she danced at the mix and mingle group on Fridays. We jokingly called her “Mrs. T” for the jewelry she wore. She always knew exactly what she wanted to buy when she walked into Stein Mart or Macys. Another of her joys was breakfast in the bistro where she always had two blueberry pancakes, bacon, and one fried egg with her son and daughter-in-law. She said they were good to the last bite. She also raved about the breakfast in the first floor dining room at the ALF. She was a collector of figurines, which kept the staff on their toes!

Following a short, acute illness, she passed into eternity on June 16, 2019.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ney Amato. She is survived and cherished by her son, Nathan Paul (Marie) Amato; her three grandchildren, Neil (Amy Seeley) Amato, Shannon Amato (Steve) Sloan , and Monica Amato (Vince) Strawbridge; her nine great-grandchildren; Alexandria Hicks, Oren Amato, Aiden Strawbridge, Sadie Amato, Stephen Sloan, June Strawbridge, Cameron Sloan, Henry Strawbridge, and Georgiana Strawbridge and nieces, Sandra Kay Bennett and Connie Miller.