Joyce Smith

Joyce Cooley Smith of Brewster, MA died peacefully in her sleep with her children by her side. Joyce was born on April 10, 1939, to Joseph and Elizabeth Cooley of Hartford, CT. She graduated from UCONN’s nursing school and worked for many years as a dedicated RN in various nursing homes throughout MA, NH, and Maine. She was the director of nursing for many of these nursing homes and an educator for nurses as well, teaching various courses over the years. Her care of and empathy towards others was evident throughout her life.

She married the love of her life, Randolph L. Smith of Bloomfield, CT on Sept. 16, 1961, and they had six children. Randy passed away in 1975 leaving Joyce to raise all six children. Joyce was adventurous and fearless. After Randy’s passing she traveled across the country with her children in a VW bus pulling a trailer. The children ranged in age from 6-13 at the time. This trip was meant to honor Randy and help bond and heal the family. Joyce enjoyed writing poetry and sent books of poems as gifts to family and friends each Christmas.

She is survived by her children, Roland (Karin), Jeffrey (Cindy), Melanie (Scott), Lauri-Ayn (Rick), Eric, and Darren and her grandchildren, Randy, Caleb, Cora-Lee, Shawn, Brian, Jonathan, Brittany, Alyssa, Erika, Karrysen, Katarina, Lauren, Logan, and several great-grandchildren, her sisters Cheryl Cooley and Brenda Dinsmore (her husband Steve and their son Jack). She is predeceased by her brother, Larry Cooley.

Services will be held at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, on Friday, January 27, at 1pm with a celebration of life planned at Cole Rd. beach in July of 2023.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Joan of Arc Church of Orleans or Cape Cod National Seashore.