FRANKFORT – Mrs. Joanne (DeNinno) Amato, formerly of Frankfort and most recently of Foltsbrook Center, in Herkimer, New York, passed away peacefully, on Friday, May 21, 2021, at the age of 85, at MVHS, Faxton-St. Luke’s Campus, in the Town of New Hartford, New York. Joanne, the daughter of Daniel and Dolores “Dora” (Laura) DeNinno, was born in Little Falls, on April 15, 1936. She graduated from Dolgeville Central School, ‘Class of 1954.’ She and some of her classmates were still getting together for lunch once a month – which she looked forward to and enjoyed. She referred to her friends as ‘the kids!’. She worked at Daniel Greens for a few years and attended night school and went on to earn an associate degree from the Utica School of Commerce becoming a bookkeeper. After that she worked at several car dealerships in the valley, finally retiring from Midtown Pontiac in Ilion. She was an active volunteer in her retirement, dedicating her time to Catholic Charities, spending many hours at the Ilion Food Pantry and chairing the Food Sense Program. She was also an active member of the Frankfort Young at Heart Senior Citizens, working on the kitchen crew. She was a communicant of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Jim O’Hare, of Schenectady, New York; as well as special cousins, Scott, Stephen, and Andrew Scialdo, Gary and Phyllis Scialdo and Janet and Jerry Moran, of New Jersey. She also leaves behind many other family members and friends who will miss her dearly. Joanne was predeceased by her husband, James “Hobo” Amato; her parents, Danny and Dora DeNinno; and her brother, Dan DeNinno. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 1:00 PM, from Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church, Frankfort, with Father Paul Catena, Pastor, Celebrating her Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frankfort. Although there are no calling hours, family and friends are respectively invited to attend the church Mass and cemetery committal to follow. If you plan to attend the Mass of Christian Burial, due to Covid restrictions, a mask will be required. Thank you. Those wishing to remember Joanne in a special manner are asked to consider a memorial contribution to the Herkimer County Humane Society, 514 State Route 5s, Mohawk, New York 13407, or to the Animal Protective Foundation, 53 Maple Avenue, Schenectady, New York 12302. A very special thank you is extended to the Foltsbrook Center staff of Herkimer for the wonderful care Joanne received while a resident of the second floor there. Arrangements for Joanne have been entrusted to the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home main chapel, at 4309 Acme Road, in Ilion, New York (Town of Frankfort), Funeral Directors Harry J. & Kevin E. Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia (315) 894-8000. An online memorial page has been established at www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.