Gerlanda V. "Jennie" Amato, 75, of Beckley, died Wednesday, June 21, 2000, after a sudden, short illness. Miss Amato was the devoted daughter of the late Salvatore "Sam" and Rosalia (Mrs. Sam) Amato of Pemberton, and was the cherished sister of the late Emanuel Amato, Guy Amato, Angeline Amato and Antoinette (nee Amato) Alaimo, and sister-in-law of the late James Alaimo, Kay Amato and Dr. Francis L. Edwards. She is survived by her beloved sisters, Dr. Theresa Amato Edwards and Catherine Amato of Beckley; her adoring nieces and nephews, Francis L. Edwards II and his wife, Carol, of Rockville, Md., Samuel Edwards and his wife, Charlotte, of Lutz, Fla., D.R. Edwards and her husband, Warren Browne, of Chicago, Samuel C. Amato and his wife, Patricia, of Baltimore, Joseph Amato and his wife, Diane Ferguson, of Ellicott City, Md., Mary Kathleen (nee Amato) Hall and her husband, Ken, of Winchester, Va., Harry Amato of Baltimore and Samuel T. Amato and his wife, Melanie, of Beckley; 17 great- and great-great nieces and nephews; and a large extended family. She is also survived by her many dear friends and colleagues and by her legions of students. Miss Amato was born July 20, 1924, in Pemberton. Upon graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1942, she attended West Virginia University and earned her A.B. degree in physical science/social studies in 1946 and her M.A. degree in 1949. She began her 54-year teaching career at Stoco High School (1946-1957) and later taught for many years at Beckley Junior High School (1957-1967) and Park Junior High School (1967-1986). Upon her retirement from full-time teaching in 1986, she continued to teach on a substitute basis until the onset of her illness. In addition to her lifelong devotion to teaching, Miss Amato was active in numerous professional, social, civic and religious organizations. Among those organizations were the Xi Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (in which she held many leadership positions from 1972-2000), the Raleigh County Association of Retired School Employees (for which she served as president and treasurer), the West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees, the Education Alliance (for which she served on the Raleigh County Development Committee at the time of her death), the National Science Teachers Association, the National Education Association, the Woman's Club of Beckley (for which she served as treasurer), the Friends of the Library, the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church (where she was a member of the Ladies of St. Francis and the choir, and served as Eucharistic minister, usher and organizer of ushers for Sunday Masses until her untimely illness). During her long and prosperous life, Miss Amato also loved to travel the country and the world, to spend time with her sisters, friends and colleagues, to lavish her nieces and nephews with love and guidance and to devote many hours each week to her church. One of her many proud achievements was helping to relocate the Pemberton Church to New River Park. The family wishes to thank all of Miss Amato's many dear friends, colleagues and extended family who called, visited, sent cards and best wishes, ran errands, did chores and prayed so hard during Miss Amato's sudden illness and upon her death. Your love and kindness will forever be remembered and appreciated. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley. A prayer service will be 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church. The celebrants will be the Rev. Samuel S. Sacus and the Rev. Mr. W. Donald Wise. Pallbearers will be her nephews and nephews-in-law, Samuel C. Amato, Joseph Amato, Francis Edwards II, Samuel Edwards, Harry Amato, Guy Amato, Samuel T. Amato, Ken Hall and Warren Browne. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Beckley. The family will be receiving visitors at 822 S. Kanawha St. Contributions in Miss Amato's memory may be made to St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, the church or the charity of the giver's choice, or to the Beckley Area Foundation, Woman's Club of Beckley Fund. Arrangements by Calfee Funeral Home, Beckley