Born June 18, 1912, a long time resident of Sunrise, FL, passed away on September 17, 2011 in Boynton Beach, FL at the age of 99. Mamie was one of six children born to Giuseppe Miano and Giovannina (Alifano) Miano. She was born in East Orange, NJ but was raised in Lioni (Avellino) Italy. She returned to America as a teen. In New York she met and married the late Eliseo V. D'Amato of Paternopoli (Avellino) Italy on August 2, 1942 in Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, NY. They had two daughters, Sandra and Joanne.
Soon after marriage, the family moved west to San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO where they resided for nineteen years. Mamie was a member of St. Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco's North Beach and in Denver, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, one of the many churches founded by St. Frances X Cabrini.
Mamie had interests inside and outside the home. She delighted in spending many summers in Europe with her daughter, Sandra. She enjoyed the grand tours but she especially loved Italy where she visited many basilicas, churches, cathedrals and shrines. She enjoyed staying in convents with the hospitable and kind nuns in Rome, Venice, Florence and Fiuggi and of course always loved being with relatives in Avellino. The highlight of one of her Italian journeys was to see her seven year old niece, Matilde De Antonellis, receive First Holy Communion from then Padre Pio, now St. Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo near Bari, Italy on June 26, 1967. Mamie was a devout Catholic who memorized many prayers in English and Italian and taught them to her daughters.
She was a gracious, energetic hostess. She enjoyed company. Her beautiful home was always open to friends and family. She delighted them with her savory home cooked meals.
Her superb culinary skills enabled her to work alongside Wilma Reiva La Sasso, famed author of the All Italian Cookbook. Together at church and civic functions, they demonstrated to audiences of Denver women the preparation and cooking of regional Italian foods- everything from fresh pastas to cannoli alla Siciliana – all long before Italian cuisine came into vogue.
Mamie was predeceased by her beloved husband Eliseo D'Amato. She is survived by her sister Inez De Marco of Highland Beach, FL; by two daughters Sandra D'Amato with whom she lived in Boynton Beach, FL and Joanne D'Amato Draughon and son-in-law, John Draughon of Aventura, FL and Charlotte, NC; three granddaughters, Giovanna Draughon Braund (Jeffrey Braund) of Charlotte, NC, Francesca Draughon (Aaron Thacker) of San Carlos, CA and Daniella Draughon of Plantation, FL; four great-grandchildren, Alex and Olivia Braund, Ethan and Emiliana Thacker; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in the United States- Arkansas, Missouri, New York, New Jersey and Florida; and in Italy- Cesinali (AV), Montefusco (AV) and Avellino.
A visitation will be held from 6pm to 8pm Wednesday, September 21, 2011. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30am Thursday, September 22, 2011 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10935 S. Military Trail, Boynton Beach. Entombment will take place at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Royal Palm Beach, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Eternal Word Television Network, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, Alabama 35210.