Obituary of Rocco Anthony "Rocky" Amato

Rocco Anthony “Rocky” Amato, 77, of Peabody, passed away suddenly at Lahey Hospital in Burlington, MA with his loving family by his side. He has been the devoted husband for the past 53 years to the love of his life Barbara (Chianca) Amato. Rocky was born in Boston, MA on August 15, 1943, to the late Anthony and Vincenza (Nigro) Amato. He worked for the Keene Lighting Corporation in Wilmington for 30 years as a Machinist before retiring in 1993. He then went to work as a Sr. Custodian at both the Carroll and South Schools in Peabody for another 10 years until finally retiring in 2003. He was adored and loved by his school family. Rocky worked hard his whole life and found pure joy in being a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Family was everything to him, especially spending time with his 10 amazing grandchildren. He is survived by four daughters that he treasured, Sharon Amato of East Haven, CT, Doreen (Anthony) Gouveia of North Andover, Cheryl (Michael) O’Leary of Georgetown, and Michelle (Mark) Higgins of Peabody, as well as his 10 cherished grandchildren, Alexa and Matthew Battaglino, Anthony, Christopher, and Emma Gouveia, Michael and Erin O’Leary, and Marcus, Adison, and Tyson Higgins, he leaves behind a sister and brother-in-law Ellen and Andy Weller of Chicago, IL as well as a sister, Jean (Jerry) Kennedy of Kingston and a brother Vincent Amato of Billerica. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Anthony and Frank Amato, and five sisters, Rita Rosone, Frances Palmieri, Raphaela Cesareo, Lenora Amato, and Marie Colorusso. Rocky will be forever remembered for so many things, but his kind heart, sweet soul, infectious sense of humor and surprising competitiveness will be missed by all who knew and loved him. The “Annual Amato Family Olympics” will never be the same. A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 10, from 4 – 7 P.M. at the Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. His funeral mass will be held on Friday, December 11, at 11 A.M. at St. John the Baptist Church, 17 Chestnut St., Peabody. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. All attendees are required to wear masks and adhere to current social distancing guidelines. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Avenue, Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451. Contributions can also be made in his name to the Carroll School PTO 60 Northend Street, Peabody, MA 01960 or the South School PTO 16 Maple St., Peabody, MA 01960 Extension. For online guestbook, please visit ccbfuneral.com