Joan C. (Corley) Guerreiro died on Feb. 27, 2023 in her Provincetown home after a lengthy illness, with her husband, Rob, by her side. She was 72.
Born in Framingham on April 17, 1950, Joani had a love affair with Provincetown that began at an early age visiting her grandmother, Marie (Morris) Corley, with her parents and siblings every summer. In 1987, she followed her heart and moved to Provincetown permanently.
A graduate of Framingham South High School, Joani attended the licensed practical nurse program at Keefe Tech. In addition to her work for WCVB in Boston and her years at the Zayre Corp., Joani waitressed with her mother, Kay, at the Beacon Terrace in Framingham and at the Natick Labs. She also worked at Framingham’s Chateau DeVille, where she met her crush, Harry Chapin.
Joani was a lifelong lover of music, from the Beach Boys, Johnny Mathis, and Cat Stevens to Eva Cassidy, Carly Simon, and the Moody Blues — one band among many others that she turned her brother Joe and sister Kathi on to as the cool older sister. Joani also loved theater, especially Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar. In later years, she went to New York to see Broadway productions with her son and husband.
Joani spent as much time as possible at the beach, enjoying many days at Head of the Meadow in Truro with Rob, her cousin Linda, and Linda’s daughter Sissy, with whom Joani shared a special relationship. Another favorite was Herring Cove in Provincetown, where she once came across a live lobster while swimming with her son and took it home to cook, not realizing until a National Seashore ranger showed up at the door that this was actually against the law. Where Joani went, adventure often followed.
In Provincetown, Joani worked for Roslyn Garfield at the Mayflower Café, the Dolphin Whale Watch Fleet, and stores like Kidstuff and Birdie Silkscreen Studio, among others. What she loved most and affected her deeply was her time as a health aide for the Visiting Nurse Association hospice in the early 1990s. She is remembered fondly and fiercely by many for her compassionate and dedicated caregiving. Joani was a supportive and supported friend of Bill W.
Joani deeply loved her family and her pets, especially her dog Scout. The light of Joani’s life was her son, David, of whom she was immensely proud.
Joani is survived by her husband, Robert Guerreiro, of Provincetown; her son, David Caparelliotis of Brooklyn, N.Y.; her brother, Joseph Corley and wife Barbara of Leominster; and her sister, Kathi Morganti and husband Paul of Holliston. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Derek Corley and wife Lacey, Bryan Corley, and Gregory Corley; goddaughter Katie Morganti Stewart and husband Garrick; Michael Morganti, Lindsay Duffy and husband Rich, Christopher Guerreiro, and Sue Guerreiro Dillon and husband Joe.
Joan was predeceased by her parents, Katherine “Kay” (White) Corley and John J. Corley Jr., and by her first husband, Arthur “Sonny” Caparelliotis.
Joan’s family expressed profound gratitude to the VNA Hospice for the loving care provided.
There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, followed by a graveside service at St. Peter’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Joan’s name can be made to VNA Hospice of Cape Cod, the Special Olympics of Mass., and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
