Aston, PA — Sister Concepta D’Amato, OSF, (formerly Sister Mary Concepta of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary), died in St. Joseph Residence in Ringwood, New Jersey, on November 9. She was eighty years of age and had been a professed for fifty-five years. Sister Concepta (Carmela Frances D’Amato) was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she was a member of Holy Rosary Parish and a graduate of Dickenson High School. In 1951 she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, a congregation which later merged with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Her sister, Sister Berard D’Amato, also entered the congregation. Sister Concepta earned a B.S. from St. Francis College in Brooklyn and ministered for thirty years in elementary education. She also worked for twenty-three years in parish ministry, serving as a pastoral associate. In addition she was a chaplain for the East Hanover Police and Fire Department. In 2001 she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Italian American Police of New Jersey. Other awards include the “Humanitarian Award” given in 1996 by Seton Hall University and the “Silver Lifetime Award” given in 1998 by the Police Benevolent Association. Her leisure activities included photography and listening to music.
Sister Concepta ministered for many years in the Diocese of Patterson. She taught at St. Francis School, in Haskel, Queen of Peace School in Hewitt, and St. Francis School in Wanaque. In 1983 she began working in parish ministry at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover and continued her ministry there until 2006.
Sister Concepta ministered in the Diocese of Brooklyn. She taught at St. Francis Paola School, St. Benedict School, and Holy Family School. In the Albany diocese she taught at St. Mary School in Frankfort.
The viewing will be held at Mt. St. Francis Convent, 474 Sloatsburg Road in Ringwood on Sunday, November 11, from 3-9 P.M. and on Monday, November 12, from 2-9 P.M. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, November 13, at St. Catherine of Bologna Church, Erskine Road, in Ringwood. Burial will follow in God’s Acre Cemetery. Sister Concepta is survived by two sisters, Sister Berard D’Amato of Passaic, New Jersey, and Jennie D’Amato of Jersey City; by her nieces and nephews; and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
