Obituary: Clayton John Skelly, 54, of Southbury

Information via Carpino Funeral Home

SOUTHBURY - Clayton John Skelly, 54, departed this life on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Clayton was born August 23, 1964, in Waterbury, a son of the late B. Clayton and Pauline (Bona) Skelly of Cheshire. Clayton lived with his family prior to moving to the Southbury Training School in 1975.

As a young boy, Clayton’s parents brought him for diagnostic testing at Cornell in Manhattan, where a rare chromosomal abnormality was found. Due to this diagnosis and his severe seizures, the doctors predicted a lifespan of only ten to fifteen years for him.

Clayton’s family wishes to thank the staff of Southbury Training School for the excellent care provided to Clayton over the years and credit STS staff for helping him to outlive predictions by over forty years.

Clayton loved to be outdoors during nice weather, and he enjoyed local trips to parks. He loved to be read to, and enjoyed music, and activities with soft puppets. Over the years, Clayton was involved with in-home day programs which provided him with recreation, leisure, and sensory stimulation activities as well as short-duration community trips.

Over the years, Clayton was blessed to have had the love and support of family and friends. His parents, especially, displayed a deep and admirable devotion. They visited Clayton every other week on the “Visiting Sundays”, and were involved in all of the family programs at Southbury Training School.

Clayton is survived by his sister Cathy Chaplin (Michael) of Standish, Maine; his brother Michael Skelly (Judy) of North Port, Florida; nieces and nephews Elizabeth Chaplin, Kim Jerauld, Stephen Skelly, Evan Skelly, Hilary Klassen, Stacey Ward Turko, and Ashley Anderson. Besides his parents, Clayton was predeceased by his brother, Francis Lawrence and his sister, Patricia A. Ward.

Arrangements are through Carpino Funeral Home, Southbury. Burial and a private graveside service will be at New North Cemetery, Woodbury.
Memorial contributions may be made to the STS Home and School Association, P.O. Box 872, Southbury, CT 06488-0901. To leave a message of remembrance, please visit: www.carpinocares.com