Ci vediamo in Paradiso, Nonno
It is with profound sadness, yet deep gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, that we share the passing of our beloved patriarch, Illuminato “Joe” Prestipino - affectionately known as Nonno, Joe, and to so many, the original Amato. Surrounded by the love of his family, Joe entered eternal life just shy of his 90th birthday.
His legacy is not simply a business.
It is kindness before profit. Honesty without compromise.
Hard work without complaint. A deep love for family.
And the importance of always having faith.
In 1977, after making the courageous journey from the small island of Vulcano in the Aeolian Islands to Australia, Nonno had a simple dream: to create a place where Italians could find a taste of home. Together with the love of his life, Connie, he opened the doors of a small family business in Leichhardt. With unwavering determination, endless hard work, an infectious passion for people, and their four children by their side, they built Amato’s Liquor Mart into so much more than a bottle shop. They built a home, a community, and a place where everyone was welcomed like family.
To us, he was Nonno. To so many others, he was their trusted friend Joe. Long-time customers still walk through our doors and smile as they share stories of the old shop, his cheeky sense of humour, and the conversations that somehow always made their day a little brighter. Joe never rushed anyone. He listened. He cared. He helped wherever he could, because he truly believed that people mattered more than profit. Many will remember his warm smile, his unmistakable wink, and the loud “How ya going, mate?” that greeted almost everyone who walked through the door.
Above everything else, Joe’s greatest pride was his family. For the past 54 years, he had the extraordinary blessing of spending every single day surrounded by those he loved most - his devoted wife Connie and their children, Julie, Grace, Frank and Daniella. That closeness was one of life’s greatest gifts to him.
Today, as we proudly continue into our third generation of family ownership and prepare to celebrate 50 years of Amato’s Liquor Mart, we do so knowing that every shelf, every conversation, every customer, and every act of kindness is built upon the foundation he laid.
As a family grounded in faith, we take comfort in knowing that this goodbye is not forever. We kindly ask that you keep our beloved Nonno in your prayers, and if you knew Joe, we invite you to remember him with a smile, a story, or an act of kindness for someone else.
Thank you, Nonno, for your sacrifices, your wisdom, your laughter, and the life you built for all of us. Your legacy lives on through your family, through this business, and through every person fortunate enough to have known you.
Rest peacefully, Amato.
Forever loved by your devoted wife Connie, your children, grandchildren, great-grandchild to be, and your entire family.
Illuminato “Joe” Prestipino
1936 – 2026