James Patrick Shanley OBITUARY
James Patrick Shanley, age 87, of Southington, CT, Cedar Island in Clinton, CT, and Naples, FL, passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Jim was the widower of Elizabeth “Betty” (Zdunczyk) Shanley, who passed away in 1997. Born in New Haven, CT, on April 20, 1936 to the late Patrick “Patsie” and Dorothy (Allen) Shanley, Jim was educated in the Hamden school system and graduated from Hamden High School as a proud Green Dragon. Jim joined the U.S. Navy in 1954 and served our country honorably and proudly for four years traveling the Mediterranean aboard the cruiser USS Northampton. Upon his return home from the service, Jim utilized the GI Bill and earned a Bachelor degree in Marketing from the University of Bridgeport. In 1960, while going to college, Jim married his wife Betty.Jim had a very successful career in sales starting at the ER Moore Company and eventually starting his own company, Shanley Associated LTD, which performed restoration on buildings, particularly churches and private schools. Jim was extremely active in and dedicated to various organizations, being a member of the Knights of St. Patrick, Polish Falcon Club Nest 307, Polish National Alliance Group 684, Southington Elks BPOE Lodge 1669, American Legion Kiltonic Post 72, Southington Chamber of Commerce, Southington Housing Authority and Southington Democrat Town Committee. Jim was very proud of his Irish heritage and found humor that as an Irishman, he was President of his local Polish Falcon Club for years. Many weekends in the summer were spent at the family’s beloved cottage on Cedar Island in Clinton or playing golf. He also looked forward to the Yale/Harvard football game every year and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Haven. Jim is survived by his two loving daughters, Christine “Chrissy” Shanley-Buck and her husband, Ron, and Kathleen “Kathy” Shanley, as well as his very cherished and special grandchildren, Michael and Lauren Shanley, Aidan and Sean Buck and Camden Kumro Scoggin, his sister-in-law, Donna Shanley, former daughter-in-law, Susan Kumro and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was predeceased by his beautiful wife Betty aka “Bet” or “Betty Ann” or “Betty Boop,” his beloved son, Michael J. Shanley, two brothers, Dick and Bob Shanley, and sister-in-law, Beverly Shanley-Scovin. Chrissy and Kathy would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the staff at All American Assisted Facility in Enfield for their love, care and attention provided to Jim and their family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the Lt. Michael J. Shanley Memorial Scholarship, c/o Christine Shanley-Buck, 358 West St., Plantsville, CT 06479 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place • Memphis, TN 38105 (https://www.stjude.org/). Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024 from the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville, with an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at the Immaculate Conception Church, 130 Summer St., Plantsville. Burial with military honors will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held from 4 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the Plantsville Funeral Home. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.
