Pamela Celeste (Francis) Coelho died on Sept. 24, 2022 at her home in North Truro with her family by her side. She had been battling interstitial lung disease, the cause of death, for five years. She was 76.
The daughter of Edgar W. “Gar” Francis Jr. and Celeste V. (Macara) Francis, Pam was born on Sept. 18, 1946 in the family home on Johnson Street in Provincetown. When she was five years old, the family moved to North Truro, where they operated two family businesses, the North Truro Camping Area and Lower Cape Bus and Taxi.
Her first paying job was to chip blocks of ice for customers. She later learned to drive school buses. Her school bus driving was noted in the “Prophecy” section of her high school yearbook, which came true in part as she later drove seniors on shopping trips to Orleans and her own children and their classmates to end-of-year beach celebrations at her house in North Truro.
As a young girl, she taught herself to skate at Pond Village. In the years before girls were allowed to play full-court basketball, she played rover, the one player allowed to play offense and defense, on the girls rules high school basketball team for four years. She was named a Cape League all-star. A natural lefty, she also played softball and would catch the ball in a righty glove and then switch hands to make the throw.
After graduating from Provincetown High School in 1964, she attended Bryant and Stratton Commercial College in Boston, earning a business degree. She worked at Capitol Records in Needham, where she met many of the top musical artists of the ’60s and ’70s, including James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and her favorite, Glen Campbell. Promotional editions of all the Beatles albums are treasured family possessions.
Pam came home to North Truro and married Michael Coelho on her 25th birthday. The couple raised their family in Provincetown and North Truro; they celebrated their 51st anniversary just days ago.
Pam passed her athletic abilities and love of sports on to her children and grandchildren. She delighted in cheering for them at ice rinks, lacrosse fields, and softball diamonds in New England, Canada, and Europe. She was equally elated to get a front-row seat at their musical recitals and school productions.
Pam and Mike operated a 65-foot commercial dragger called Michael and Amy. They would drag for flatfish day and night, with Pam often joining the five-member crew, who taught her how to shuck scallops. For 30 years, she also owned and operated the Cape Breeze Motel and Cottages and, later, the Southwind Court Cottages. Repeat customers often became lifelong friends.
Pam was happiest spending time with her family. She was a generous and caring mother and grandmother, and was grateful to have shared time with her sister, Jo Johnson, daughter-in-law Heather, son-in-law Paul, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She provided her coveted cakes for every celebration.
She enjoyed walks and morning coffee with Susan Souza and Margie Lopes and she cherished her visits with Nancy Meads.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Coelho of North Truro; son Michael Coelho Jr., wife Heather, and children Gabriel, Sophie, and Zachary of North Truro; and daughter Amy Coelho Cokinos, husband Paul Cokinos, and children Michaela and Devin of Dedham.
Pam was predeceased by her brother, Edgar W. “Butch” Francis III.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Pam’s name can be made to the Lower Cape Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 1721, Provincetown 02657, the Provincetown Rescue Squad, 25 Shank Painter Rd., Provincetown 02657, or the Truro Fire and Rescue Association, P.O. Box 2013, Truro 02666.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown. Burial will follow at the Old North Cemetery in North Truro.
For online condolences visit nickersonfunerals.com.
