Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKLAND - Sherry Guarneri, 44, died, peacefully at home, surrounded by her devoted family and friends after a 2 year battle with brain and lung cancer, Friday, February 6, 2015.

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, CT. She lived most of her life in New Haven, CT. She worked at Fox Woods Casino as a supervisor in the Engineering Department before moving to Rockland Maine 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 pre-deceased 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, CT; two sons and one daughter, 23 year old Brett Potts of Fort Drum, NY, three year old Joseph Guarneri of Rockland, 18 year old Brittany Glaude of Rockland; brother Stephen DiMartino of Groton, CT, and many other family members.

The family will receive friends at the service held at 6:00 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2015 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Lungevity, a national organization for lung cancer research. The website for donations is Lungevity.org. There will also be a Bucket List Ride fundraiser to help with expenses on February 21st, at 10:00 a.m. at Heartspot Stables, 26 Woodledge Lane, Thomaston. There will be a reception after the fundraiser for family and friends at 2:30 p.m. at the family home.