Who Did Joan Pick on 'The Golden Bachelorette' Finale?

Joan Vassos made her final decision on The Golden Bachelorette after weeks of emotional struggle.

The widow from Maryland, 61, also faced a live studio audience during the "After the Final Rose" part of Wednesday night's live ABC finale.

Host Jesse Palmer presided over the franchise finale once again.

Joan's final two men were insurance exec Chock Chapple, 60, and ER doc Guy Gansert, 66.

The beautiful blonde had warned her suitors early in the season that she felt guilty about pursuing romance because of the memory of her late husband, John Vassos. He had died in January 2021 of pancreatic cancer.

Joan didn't know if she was truly ready to find the second great love of her life.

Parade previously previewed how Joan cried with two of her kids about their father.

How did Joan's finale begin?

Joan was crying that she felt unlovable after her Frenchman, Pascal Ibgui, had eliminated himself.

The third place guy had told Joan during the fantasy suites episode that he wasn't in love with her as he didn't feel the spark.

Nancy Hulkower from The Golden Bachelor joined Joan in her island paradise as she cried about her breakup with Pascal. She had lost her confidence.

Joan's pal assured her she wasn't unlovable.

The Golden Bachelorette star told Nancy she feared her journey was marred. But Nancy pointed out that Chock and Guy were still there and wonderful. "Get to know them even better. Don't give the power to Pascal," she said.

How did Joan rebound?

Joan arrived in beautiful Bora Bora by boat.

She was looking forward to seeing her family after they'd spent weeks apart.

Daughter Ally and son Nick and their significant others learned about Guy and Chock being the finalists.

Joan and Ally cried together when she talked about their father. She told her relatives about her struggle to move on after loss.

How was Chock's meeting with Joan's kids?

Chock wanted Joan for the rest of his life, and hoped the visit would go well.

It did, although Joan's son Nick told Chock it was difficult talking to a new man in his mom's life.

"I'm just here to make your mom happy," Chock told him.

Nick told cameras that Chock seemed to genuinely love Joan.

He later told his mother he liked Chock!

Joan confided in Nick that she had been nervous her kids would be mad at her for moving on.

But Nick stressed how proud they all were of her!

What happened on Chock's final date with Joan?

Chock told cameras he could see himself with Joan the rest of his life.

They toasted each other with champagne and Chock confided he'd gotten emotional meeting Joan's children.

Joan said she was "surprised I got to this point...my heart really opened up."

Chock gave her a gift of a romantic note and a key chain, promising to take her on a trip to New York.

Joan got teary-eyed as Chock said, "I want to marry you. I do love you."

She told cameras it was the first time since her late husband John that anyone had said that to her.

Joan didn't say she loved Chock back, explaining in confessional that she wouldn't say it until the very end with her final man.

Chock told cameras he wasn't happy she hadn't said "I love you."

If Joan didn't say it during his proposal, it would be a big problem, the insurance guy from Kansas sighed to cameras.

"What am I supposed to do?" Chock said.

Why did Joan send Guy home on The Golden Bachelorette?

A torrential rain greeted Guy on the day he was going to meet Joan's family.

"I have fallen in love," Guy, from Reno, Nevada, said in confessional.

"My intentions are to get down on a knee."

However, Joan told cameras as she walked in the rain that "I actually found love...I know where my heart is at."

She went to Guy's room to talk.

Joan sat down and told Guy, "We had a great date last week and today you are supposed to meet my family."

The Golden Bachelorette star then paused and admitted, to Guy's shock, "My heart belongs to somebody else."

Although she cared about Guy, Joan said she couldn't put him through meeting her family and showing up on the last day.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't want to hurt you," Joan said as they hugged and Guy cried.

Guy told Joan, who also was sad, "I fell in love with you...it's not what I was expecting at all."

But he knew, "There's no changing your mind."

Guy revealed to Joan he had been planning to propose!

Joan hugged him goodbye.

It meant Chock was Joan's final choice.

Joan was upset she had hurt Guy, but told cameras, "My heart belongs to Chock, not Guy."

Crying Guy, who was left behind, said he was heartbroken.

What did Guy say on "ATFR"?

Guy joined the studio audience with host Jesse to go over his devastation.

"I thought I was the guy," he said. But Guy added, "I got so much out of it."

Watching the show, Guy knew he could find love again.

Guy wanted to see Joan again, so she came out to cheers from the audience.

The doctor told Joan he had been "a slow burn" with her but he did fall in love.

Guy wanted to know "was there something missing?"

Joan explained she couldn't have strong feelings for more than one person.

While she liked Guy a lot and found him kind, he wasn't the one.

There hadn't been enough time for them, Joan confirmed.

"I hope we will be friends and one day, we will be double dating," Joan told her suitor.

What happened next with Joan and Chock?

The show returned to Bora Bora.

Joan said she'd given in to the leap of faith needed to move on with a new man.

Her future looked bright because of Chock, she told cameras.

Then the scene changed, capturing Chock saying he'd found a partner in Joan.

She told cameras as a boat took her to the final decision place that it was a life-changing day as she'd realized she loved Chock.

Chock, also, was standing atop a boat taking him to his love meeting.

Joan had become "the woman of my life," he said to cameras.

He told Jesse it was getting better and better with Joan. He was in love.

"She has not told me that she loves me," Chock said in confessional. He was worried but was determined to take the risk and propose.

Chock walked to Joan standing on a gorgeous dock by the sea.

"I'll honor him by loving you every day, I'll tell you that I love you every day," Chock said of Joan's late husband John. "I still think I'm in a dream."

Joan said on their date at Disneyland, she felt the connection. She was worried when he had to leave the show briefly after his mother died, and overjoyed he returned.

"There is still hope, even at our age," she noted about later in life love.

"I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Joan finally told Chock.

"Joan, will you marry me?" Chock said, getting down on one knee.

He put a sparkling Neil Lane diamond ring on Joan's finger and they shouted, "We're engaged!" to cameras.

Joan phoned her mom Mary, 92, who had suffered illness during the show, and announced she was engaged to Chock.

What did Joan and Chock say on "After The Final Rose"?

The two were happy to be able to finally unveil their love on the live ABC show.

"I couldn't be happier and I want the world to know it," Chock declared.

He said how classy Joan was during rose ceremonies, and how kind she was to him and the other 23 suitors.

Joan had said she'd held in her love for Chock. It was a "huge relief" to finally spill the news to him on the last day in Bora Bora.

Chock and Joan had shared time after the show in the show's "happy couples' house." That's where the star and her final pick could spend secret private hours.

They cooked and played crossword puzzles, Chock revealed!

Joan told fans that hope isn't enough, you have to take action to find your person at any age.

Chock said people should "risk love."

Their families were in the crowd, including Joan's adorable grandkids.

Jesse announced that Joan and Chock would be treated to a free trip to Disneyland in Florida with their families.