Joan G. Konopka

Joan was born on May 28,1936 in Hartford, Connecticut to the late Francis and Alice Gentile.

She attended Leominster High School, where she was voted class wit. She met her husband, Bruce Konopka during a summer vacation in Hyannis. They were married on April 17,1955 and remained happily married for 60 years.

Bruce and Joan felt a connection to the natural beauty of Cape Cod and in 1969 moved from suburban Connecticut to Cross Street in Chatham with their three daughters.

Joan and Bruce created a community of friends and family who shared in their journey of spirituality, art, music and peace.

Joan co-established and operated the first natural food store on the Lower Cape.

She attended both Cape Cod Community College and later Lesley University and became a Registered Nurse. She worked for over 25 years at Cape Cod Hospital, later transferring to the hospital’s Psychiatric Center. Joan’s early interest in meditation and mindfulness prompted her to create a teaching program for the hospital’s medical staff.

She published several guided meditation audioworks, was a trained reiki practitioner, an artist, gardener and friend. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod VNA.

Joan was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House where she was a beloved member and enjoyed a spiritual community, facilitating a weekly meditation group.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Michael. She is survived by her daughters; Karen Konopka and her partner Danny, Joyce Reynolds and her husband Francis, and Gayle Capulli and her husband Christian, all of Chatham and all within shouting distance of each other. She was survived also by her cherished grandchildren; Emily, Richie, Patrick and Celia.

A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Chatham on July 22, 2023 at 11 AM. A gathering will take place at 12 noon at Knot’s Landing in Chatham.

Please consider making a donation in Joan’s memory to the Pause-Awhile Recovery Center in Brewster, MA or the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Chatham, MA.

Life contains three parts; the beginning, the middle, and the beginning.