Anne Amato Cimato Kearns
Anne Amato Cimato Kearns, 83, of Fort Myers, passed away at her home Sept. 14, 2012, after suffering a stroke.
Kearns was born on Jan. 5, 1929, in Brooklyn, Y.Y., to Anna (Kehl) and Ferdinand Amato Sr. She lived her early life on Long Island and later met Ralph Cimato Sr. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In 1950 they married and eventually moved to Sanibel Island and lived on Woodring Point. Ralph Sr. passed away in 1971 and 10 years later Anne remarried the late Richard Kearns and began the family business Ace Hardware (1987) in the Forever Green Shopping Center on Sanibel.
Anne is notorious for family gatherings and scrapbooking of events through the years of family and friends. Anne also was most proud of coordinating the Bicentennial Sanibel Parade in 1976.
Anne is survived by her brother Ferdinand Amato II; her children Joseph Cimato, Anna Cimato, John Cimato (Kathryn) and Ralph Cimato; step-daughter Laurel Kearns (Bob McCoy); her grandchildren Stephanie, Suzie, Vincent, Chrissy, Katie, Jessica, Ally, Cassy, Alana, Taylor and Nicholas; step-grandchildren Claire and Christopher; her great-grandchildren, Hailey, Emma, Mason, Ainsley, Marla, Addison, Gabriel, Deacon, Colton, Johnny and Jayden.
Her younger brother Andrew Amato, first husband Ralph Cimato, second husband Richard Kearns and granddaughter Jennifer Stovall preceded her in death.
A celebration of life was held at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 19 at the Church of The Resurrection of Our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anne’s honor may be made to FISH (Friends In Service Here), 1630 Periwinkle Way, Unit B, Sanibel, FL 33957; (239) 472-4775.