Obituary

Sherry Guarneri, obituary

Tue, 02/10/2015 - 2:00pm

ROCKLAND — Sherry Guarneri, 44, died peacefully Feb. 6, 2015, at home, surrounded by her devoted family and friends after a two-year battle with brain and lung cancer.

She was a top graduate in her certified nursing assistant class and was employed by Penobscot Bay Medical Center, where she worked as an emergency room technician until her illness took her away from a career she loved.

Born July 13, 1970, to Kenneth Wheeler and Linda Konopka of Norwich, Conn., she lived most of her life in New Haven, Conn. She worked at Fox Woods Casino as a supervisor in the engineering department before moving to Rockland with her husband, David, in 2005. She will always be remembered as a loving and caring wife, mother, friend and caregiver. She never let her illness stop her from her passion, which was writing. She was a published author of two books, A Private Storm, a biography of her life, and Shuzi: A Memoir of Her Journey of Lung Cancer to Brain Metastasis.

Sherry leaves behind her loving spouse, family, wonderful friends, and caregivers who provided love and support that enhanced the quality of her life during her final days. She gave to others without expecting anything in return. With Sherry's passing, we remind others that her life is one to be celebrated. She will be missed but will forever remain in our hearts.

She is predeceased by her father, Kenneth Wheeler; and her sister, Lisa Wheeler Scheck. She is survived by her husband, David Guarneri of Rockland; her mother and step-father, Linda and Doug Sogolow of Canterbury, Conn.; two sons and one daughter, 23-year-old Brett Potts of Fort Drum, N.Y., 3-year-old Joseph Guarneri of Rockland and 18-year-old Brittany Glaude of Rockland; her brother, Stephen DiMartino of Groton, Conn.; and many other family members.

The family will receive friends at the service to be held Friday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Lungevity, a national organization for lung cancer research: Lungevity.org. There will also be a Bucket List Ride fundraiser to help with expenses on Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at Heartspot Stables, 26 Woodledge Lane om Thomaston. There will be a reception after the fundraiser for family and friends at 2:30 p.m. at the family home.