Obituary: Cecilia Frances (Taylor) Cleary, 92, Of Bethel

Information Courtesy Cornell Memorial Home

BETHEL, CT — Mrs. Cecilia Frances (Taylor) Cleary, age 92, of Bethel, passed away peacefully on Saturday October 23, 2021 at the Regional Hospice in Danbury. She was the loving and devoted wife of the late John L. Cleary for 71 years.

Cecilia was born December 1, 1928 in Danbury, daughter of the late Theodore and Wilma (Rafferty) Taylor. She graduated from Bethel High School in 1946 where she earned the title of Poet Laureate of the class and participated on the cheerleading squad; but her proudest accomplishment of her high school years was earning a Palmer Method of Business Writing Certificate – something few achieved.

In her younger years, Cecilia was a talented tap dancer and a gifted ice skater who skated on every frozen pond in the towns of Danbury and Bethel. A (mostly) lifetime resident of Bethel, Cecilia also lived 8 years in Southbury. She worked over 20 years as the payroll clerk for the Bethel Board of Education, retiring in 1990.

Cecilia and her husband John spent many happy times in various vacation homes in Vero Beach, FL, Wilmington, NC, and in their beautiful 2nd home on Cape Cod in Eastham, MA. Additionally, they spent several summers traveling about the U.S. in their motor home, and touring in Italy, Germany, and Ireland with friends and family.

Cecilia is survived by her sons: Kevin and his wife Brenda of Bethel, Timothy and his wife Pamela of Bethel, Paul and his wife Ann of Cape Canaveral, FL, Patrick and his wife Pamela of Las Vegas, NV, and Michael and his wife Karen of Sharpsburg, GA, as well as 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Ruth Dibble and her brother Theodore Taylor.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday Oct 30th at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Bethel. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bethel. There are no calling hours. The Cornell Memorial Home 247 White St Danbury is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Regional Hospice of Danbury or Brotherhood in Action of Bethel.