Shirley Mae Amato; Volunteer

Shirley Mae Amato, a longtime San Fernando Valley volunteer, has died at a North Hollywood hospital. She was 68.

Mrs. Amato died Saturday of leukemia, said her son, Richard Amato of Burbank.

Born in Detroit, she came to California in 1959 and settled in Burbank. She began working as a saleswoman for Beeline clothes and was later promoted to regional sales director. During the 1960s and 1970s, Mrs. Amato also worked as a school crossing guard in Burbank. In 1976, she went to work in the communications department of St. Joseph Medical Center, later working as director of communications for the Bonaventure Hotel and the Airport Hilton Hotel.

After her retirement in 1986, Mrs. Amato volunteered at the Burbank Temporary Aid Center for two years. Since 1990, she had been a volunteer legal advocate at the Josyln Adult Center in Burbank. She also donated her time as a counselor at the Valley Senior Service & Resource Center in Van Nuys and the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. Last year, she was named the Outstanding Senior Volunteer by the city of Burbank and also won the state’s Older American Volunteer Service Award.

In addition to her son, Richard, Mrs. Amato is survived by her son, William F. Amato of Burbank and two grandchildren. Her husband, William Amato, died in 1973.

Visitation is planned from 1 to 5 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Valley Funeral Home, 2121 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank, which is handling the arrangements. A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday at the mortuary, with burial to follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills.