Obituary of Carolyn D. Skene

Carolyn Donna Skene (Preedom), of Shelton, CT, died Friday, December 4, 2015, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 79. Born in Rutland, VT, on April 17, 1936 to Donald Preedom and Dorothy Nourse, Carolyn was the oldest of two sisters, and early on developed lifelong passions for painting and ballroom dance. While working as an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Carolyn met and later married Richard Skene. Carolyn and Richard went on to have seven children and six grandchildren, and together continued to teach and enjoy ballroom dancing throughout their nearly 57 years of marriage. While raising her family, Carolyn went back to school to earn a Master's Degree in Recreation Therapy from Southern Connecticut State College. Carolyn pursued a career in Recreation and Art Therapy at various positions at Southbury Training School, Lower Fairfield Regional Center, and Griffin Hospital. Recently, Carolyn spent a great deal of time helping to care for her husband Richard, who had developed Alzheimer's disease. Richard preceded Carolyn in death earlier this year. The family is grateful to Dionne Forbes, whose loyal service to both Richard and Carolyn was a source of comfort and dignity. Carolyn is also preceded in death by her sons, Kevin and David, and sister, Beatrice Broniewski. Carolyn is survived by her children Brian Skene and partner Maria, Debra Reale and husband Mark, Susan Thees and husband Paul, Laurie Grosso and husband John, and Craig Skene and wife Christy; grandchildren Cynthia Wells, Jacob and Alyssa Grosso, Julia and Luke Thees and RJ Reale; and in-laws Maryellen Pinto and husband Al, Lois McDonald and husband Ed, Gerald Skene, Judith and Betty Skene and Jim Miller. Carolyn also leaves behind a treasure trove of portraits, landscapes, and sculptures that she lovingly created for friends and relatives. Friends can greet the family on Thursday, December 10, 2015 from 3-6 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. A prayer service will take place on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home with later interment at the family's convenience. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 372 Danbury Rd., Wilton, CT 06897, the American Diabetes Association, 2080 Silas Deane Highway, 2nd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 and/or Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405.