Bonnie Joyce Amato

Bonnie Joyce (Macaluso) Amato (1946-2025)

Bonnie Joyce Amato, 78, formerly of Toms River, NJ, died at home in Orlando, FL of Alzheimer’s disease on March 1, 2025. 

She was born in Red Bank, NJ on June 19, 1946 to Virginia (Day) and Dominick Macaluso. She attended Neptune High School where she met her husband of 58 years, Benjamin Amato.

Bonnie graduated from Ocean County College and Georgian Court College where she graduated with honors. Bonnie was a special education teacher in the Toms River Regional Schools until she retired in 2008. Once she moved to Orlando, she worked and volunteered in Orange County Public Schools for several years.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Virginia and Dominick Macaluso and her sister, Valerie. She is survived by her husband, Benjamin Amato, daughter Beth Pekar and son-in-law Joe from Orlando, FL, son Brian Amato and daughter-in-law Tori from Lincoln, Nebraska, and her grandchildren, Josie, Cody, Alex and Brooke. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws, Marie (Cookie) and Diane (Dee) and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. 

Bonnie will be buried at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, FL on March 28, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Special Olympics, St. Jude or Alzheimer’s Association.