Joan Lola Cirillo (Allen)

of North Scituate passed away peacefully on October 3rd, 2024 at Overlook Nursing Home. Joan was born in Providence to the late William and Etta (Brinkman-Smith) Allen. She was the sister of Tamara Griffis, Paula ‘Audrey’ Tata, Walter Smith, William Allen, John Allen, George Allen, Charles Allen, and Mary (Allen) Sayles. Joan resided in North Scituate for 28 years, living also in Foster, Providence, and Johnston previously. 

Joan graduated from Coventry High School since there was no high school in Foster, where she lived at the time on her family’s farm. As a teenager, she enjoyed being a member of the Glee Club and playing organ for her local church. The stories of her youth were always shared with laughter-whether she was sneaking off with her friends to make wine with rotten grapes, driving groups of friends around in her dad’s hearse that was used for farm egg deliveries, or encountering farm animals in the farm’s outhouse at odd hours of the day.

In her early 20’s, she married Ralph M. Cirillo and together they welcomed three children into the world-Paula, Paul, and Perry. Their young family belonged to St. Mary’s on Broadway in Providence until they moved to Johnston. From there, they became early members of St. Robert Bellarmine Church-even before the current church building was built. Joan went on to become a Eucharist Minister for 20 years through the church, dedicating time each Sunday to both serve eucharist and visit newfound friends at Cherry Hill Nursing home. As a resident of Golini Drive for many years, Joan was known for her: sense of humor, graciousness, hosting holidays, love of music and piano playing, delicious home cooked meals and desserts, fashion sense, glitz and spunk, and sometimes a bit outlandish Christmas decorations. Her children recall that Joan always welcomed them and their friends into her home, whipped up delicious meals no matter where the vegetables might have been “borrowed” from, had many knitting projects in progress all at once, made such a mess in the kitchen that even the dogs were covered in flour, provided good alibis for the truancy officer, and without fail gave them a tried and true unconditional love. 

In her golden years of retirement, Joan-also lovingly called Joanie or Lola-lived an active and full life. Her interests were: knitting or crocheting, taking bus trips with friends, cooking, baking (especially her award winning apple pies), singing along and dancing to 50’s music, driving around in her red convertible, shopping, playing cards, giving her time or even the last dollar in her wallet to others in need, going to church, housekeeping, dog sitting, or enjoying the beach. It was during this time that Joan earned the distinguished title of “Grama” to her six grandchildren-Jessica, Tara, Brianna, Giana, Michael, and Vanessa. Without fail, she attended every award ceremony, championship or playoff game, graduation, religious milestone event-even acting as a Confirmation sponsor for her youngest granddaughter. She was always just a phone call away no matter what her grandchildren needed and she was up for any adventurous idea they had-like rollerblading in the basement, shows at PPAC, or trips to the beach or concerts. Joanie spent quality time with her children and grandchildren whenever she could-sharing with them her love of cooking and baking, music and vinyl records, faith, compassion for others, a sense of humor, and family traditions. Throughout her life, Joan carried on with grace and determination no matter what lemons were sent her way-and to be honest, she turned those lemons into an exquisite lemon meringue that many of us will miss. 

Joan was welcomed into heaven by her guardian angel and late son Perry, her parents, her eight brothers and sisters, her ex-husband Ralph, her extended family, and a mile long line of friends and dogs from across her lifetime. Her legacy lives on through her daughter Paula D’Andrea and husband Michael of North Smithfield, her son Paul Cirillo and partner Lisa Christofaro of Exeter, her six grandchildren, her soon to be 10 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to share in celebrating Joan’s 89 years of life at the Nardolillo Funeral Home & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on October 11th, 2024 for Visitation Hours from 9-10am. Following visitation, her Mass of Christian Burial begins at 11am at St. Robert Bellarmine, Johnston. Burial will be held at Highland Memorial Park in Johnston. 

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Nursing Placement-most especially the many CNAs that cared for “Joanie” over the years, Beacon Hospice, and Overlook Nursing Home. In lieu of flowers, please honor our remarkable mother and grandmother with donations to your local food pantry as many families are in need of a good meal and the holidays are just around the corner.