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Shirley Cleary

7/30/1937 - 6/9/2025

BORN

7/30/1937

DIED

6/9/2025

FUNERAL HOME

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home

48 Grand Street

Niantic, Connecticut

Shirley Cleary Obituary

Niantic - Shirley Dahl Cleary, 87, of Niantic, passed away June 9, 2025, at her residence. She was born July 30, 1937, in New London, the daughter of Albert and Catherine (Carver) Dahl.

Mrs. Cleary was employed for many years as a long-distance operator for SNET.

Survivors include all her children: Edmund T. Cleary IV, Michael Cleary, John Cleary, Steven Cleary, Catherine Cleary and Amy Riggs. She is also survived by all nine grandchildren; and all six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Edmund T. Cleary Jr.; and her parents; and brother Albert Dahl Jr.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, at St. Agnes Church, Haigh Avenue, Niantic. Entombment will follow in St. Mary Mausoleum, Jefferson Avenue, New London. For the full obituary, please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Day on Jun. 29, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Shirley Cleary

Sponsored by Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home.

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4 Entries

Wendy Bohara

June 29, 2025

Deepest condolences worked with Shirley at Flanders Health Center.

Dave Fairman

June 29, 2025

Rest in Peace Shirley

Kris Nickerson

June 27, 2025

To Steve, John and the entire Cleary family,
My sincerest sympathy on the loss of your Mom. She was a special lady!

Millie Wheaton

June 25, 2025

I'm so sorry to hear of your Mother's passing I send my sincere sympathy. Shirley and I were cousin's and as kids till older teens lived one street away from one another. Shirley's mother was my aunt Catherine she and my Dad were brother and sister. We were pretty close in age and got along just great once married we began raising a family we set up play date for Amy and
my son . I know your family has lost a very special giving and kind person A very outgoing happy person she and your Dad were involved in their community in many ways in East Lyme.I shall always cherish so many wonderful memories we had. My husband and I moved to Salem and the H S kids in Salem were bused to E L High School and we discovered that my son and Amy had a few classes together nice it gave your Mom and I time to see each other at many events when these two were toddlers and up to 3 years old we set up play time for them another way for us cousins to stay connected. I know it must give you comfort to know she is now with the Love of her Life your Dad Ed and her Brother and her Mom and Dad . God Bless your family
I will have you in my
.

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results

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Memorial Events
for Shirley Cleary

Jul

15

Visitation

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home

48 Grand Street, Niantic, CT 06357

Jul

16

Service

10:00 a.m.

St. Agnes Church

22 Haigh Street, Niantic, CT 03657

Funeral services provided by:

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home

48 Grand Street, Niantic, CT 06357

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