Jeanne A. Amato

AMATO, Jeanne Ann, age 91, formerly Jeanne Ann Rankin, passed away on Monday, April 24, 2017, at her home in Kettering, Ohio. The eldest child of Gertrude (Miller) and Harold Rankin, Jeanne was born February 22, 1926, in Springfield, Ohio. Jeanne graduated from Catholic Central High in 1944. She earned her R.N. from Sinclair Community College in 1983. At age 57, Jeanne started her career as an R.N., and worked at Good Samaritan Hospital in cardiac step-down and mother / baby units until her retirement in 1998. Prior to becoming an R.N., Jeanne worked as an executive secretary at the Dayton Walther Corp. in Dayton. Jeanne was active in Ascension Parish in Kettering from 1958 until 2014, in retirement, singing in the funeral choir and volunteering with the funeral luncheons. Each of Jeanne's five children attended Ascension Elementary School, and Jeanne was an active and involved parent. Jeanne's talents were diverse and numerous. She was a productive artist, athlete, performer, writer, community volunteer, political activist, seamstress, and baker. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, aunt, sibling and friend. She was an inspiration to many. Jeanne loved to learn, dance, entertain & travel all of which she continued to do until recently. She travelled both in the U.S. and internationally, and she made many adventurous trips to California. Through Jeanne's generosity many of her children and grandchildren were able to travel, too. Preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and second husband, David Frock, her parents, and her siblings Mildred Rankin and Robert Rankin, she is survived by her five children, Elaine Malott, Hank (Nancy) Amato, Susan Amato (Rodney Miller), Phil (Barb) Amato, and Jeanine Weller; eleven grandsons and four granddaughters (and their spouses/partners); eleven great-grandsons and thirteen great-granddaughters; one great-great granddaughter; numerous dear nieces and nephews on both the Rankin and Amato sides; her beloved siblings, sister, Rosemary (Guy) Infante, brother, Sonny (Carolyn) Rankin, and sister-in-law, Darlene Rankin; as well as her former sister-in-law, Laura Cligrow and Harry A. Amato, Sr., father of Jeanne's five children. A Remembrance Luncheon at the Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering will be held May 5, 2017 from noon to 2pm. Information about a funeral mass will be provided there or upon request. Jeanne will be interred in Springfield in a private ceremony. Deepest thanks to Jeanine Weller and family members and friends who helped with Jeanne's care allowing her to remain in her beloved home of 59 years. Those who spent time with Jeanne during her last few years found her Irish humor intact, her love of family obvious, and her observations sincere. In lieu of flowers, if desired, contributions may be made in Jeanne's name to her favorite charities Smile Train, www.smiletrain.org, P.O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090-6231; Boy's Town, www.boystown.org, 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010; St. Jude's Children's' Hospital, www.stjude.org, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. There will be time for speaking at the luncheon, please bring stories.

Funeral Home:
Kettering Routsong Funeral Home
2100 E. Stroop Rd.
Kettering, OH
US 45429