Harriet Ruth Guyon Wood

  In Loving Memory of Harriet Ruth Guyon Wood
1937 – 2025
 Harriet Ruth Guyon Wood passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her parents, Emma (Goldrick) and Harry (Wood), and by her dear friend of more than 60 years, Shirley Kadesh, with whom she shared countless adventures, laughter, and travels.
Born in North Dighton, MA, Harriet grew up in Taunton and made Harwich her cherished home for more than five decades. A proud graduate of the Union Hospital Nursing School in Fall River, Class of 1958, she began her nursing career at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and later worked at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and several other California hospitals. Eventually, she moved to the Cape, where she continued her career at Cape Cod Hospital and in various care settings.
For more than 40 years, Harriet devoted her life to nursing, offering her skill, compassion, and humor to thousands of patients. She served as a cardiac care nurse, hospice manager, school and camp nurse, and nursing instructor. Yet, the work closest to her heart was her time as a group home nurse at Nauset Workshop (now Cape Abilities), where she cared for people with different abilities. Her calling to nursing began early—after losing her father to tuberculosis as a young girl, she dedicated her life to caring for others.
Harriet lived life with energy, curiosity, and joy. She loved jazz and live music, swimming, tending to plants she grew from seed, and discovering treasures—her “collectibles”—from here, there, and everywhere. She had a quick wit, an easy laugh, and a genuine interest in people’s stories. Harriet connected effortlessly with others, often through spirited conversation and shared humor.
A lifelong animal lover, Harriet opened her heart and home to many rescue pets over the years. She will be deeply missed by her cat, Rosie, and her granddog, Lucy. Above all, Harriet was a devoted and loving mother, sharing a deep and enduring bond with her daughter, Lisa, who was the center of her life.
Harriet’s life was enriched by wonderful neighbors—Bob and Patricia Johnson, and Marci Johnson—her dear friend John Thorndike, and her loving cousin Martha McCusker.
Her family extends heartfelt gratitude to the many compassionate individuals and organizations who cared for Harriet in her later years at home: the Harwich Meals on Wheels Volunteers; Bayada Home Care staff, especially Amoy Russell, Tarraza Millard, and Renee Featherstone; Harwich Town Nurse, Susan Jusell; Saranya Hayward of the Harwich Council on Aging; Relief Home Health Services; and the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod.
During her final year, Harriet’s own legacy of loving care was returned to her by the extraordinary care teams at Liberty Commons in Chatham and Broad Reach Healthcare.
A funeral mass will be held at 11am on Saturday, November 15th, 2025 at Holy Trinity Church located at 246 Main Street (rt 28), West Harwich. Mass will be followed by a gathering in the church hall. 
In lieu of flowers, donations in Harriet’s memory may be made to WE CAN or The Family Pantry of Cape Cod, two Harwich-based organizations whose missions she deeply admired.
Harriet’s spirit, warmth, and laughter will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.