Shelley D. Prague

“If I could sit across the porch from God, I would thank him for lending me you.”

Shelley Diane Prague, born October 9, 1951, slipped away peacefully on December 19, 2024, at the age of 73.

Shelley grew up in Willimantic, CT and graduated from Windsor Mountain High School in Lenox, MA. She was a skilled court reporter, spending most of her years at the Enfield Courthouse where she made lifelong friends of colleagues, judges and attorneys. Shelley was a talented artist, loved to create needlepoint art and intricate crafts and had a gift for interior decorating. In the past few years, when illness kept her home, Facebook kept her connected to friends, family and Willimantic history.

When Shelley loved you, she loved you with her whole heart and when she was loved in return, she held you close. Shelley was feisty, sarcastic, held strong beliefs and wanted to see the best in people. Her cats, Bailey and Benny, brought Shelley years of unconditional love and companionship.

We will miss Shelley immeasurably. Shelley is survived by her sisters, Joanne Prague Doyle (Tom Doyle) and Benay Smith and her nephews Nathan Prague Doyle and Matthew Smith as well as her extended family. She was predeceased by her parents Franklin and Edith Prague and her sister, Susan. Shelley’s caregiver of 8 years, Patricia Morris, brought Shelley love, companionship, someone to argue with, faith in the meaning of friendship and compassion and a profound sense of comfort up to the last moment of her life.

Shelley was blessed by the ways in which people made connections and brightened her life in so many ways. Dr. Maine, Annie and Liz, Glenn and Denise, Tammy, Carol, Sharon and Leslie…the “ups” were made better, and the “downs” were made easier because of your presence in Shelley’s life.

Shelley told me, “Keep it simple” so it will be simple, my sister. Shelley’s graveside service will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 1:00 at Temple B’nai Israel Cemetery at 227 Stafford Road, Mansfield, CT at the junction of Routes 31 and 32.