Lucille Napolitano Guerrini Burks, 83, known to friends and family as “Lou” and “Nonni,” passed away after a brief illness on Oct. 9 at her home in West Yarmouth with her family close by.
Lou was born Dec. 15, 1936, in Boston to Helen “Nellie” Gallo and Antonio “Tony” D’Alessandro and grew up in the Italian North End of Boston. In 1953 in York, Maine, Lou married Richard Antony Guerrini. In 1997, Lou married Chester “Chet” Arnold Burks.
Lou was the kitchen manager of Hopkinton Junior-Senior High School for many years and also ran a successful cake business, providing elaborately decorated cakes for weddings, birthdays and other events. Her license plate read “Cake Lady.” Lou also was a quilter and stained glass artist.
She is survived by sister Roberta Mintner and husband Robert, daughter Jean T. Alman and husband Barry, son Michael R.Guerrini and wife Kathy, son Steven J. Guerrini and fiancee Darya Coldwell, grandchildren Benjamin Alman, Nicholas Alman, Geralyn Guerrini-Carr, Carli Guerrini, Matthew Guerrini, and Jillian Loving and husband Will, brother-in-law Scott Taylor, and her husband Chet’s seven children and 10 grandchildren.
Lou was preceded in death by her husbands Richard and Chet, her sister Leila, and her grandson Steven.
The wake took place Oct. 15 at Doane, Beal & Ames in Hyannis with prayers led by Deacon Patrick Guerrini. The funeral followed at Otis Air Force base in Bourne.
Memorial donations in Lou’s honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
Jean I remember going to your house when I was in school with you. And I always would run into your mother occasionally through the years. The last time I spoke with her was a few years ago at a store I worked at in Hopkinton near your old house. And now I work at our old high school in the cafeteria ! She was such a nice lady and I am sorry to hear she has passed.