Clara Shelley

She was born in Brooklyn, NY on 9/29/29 (leave it to her to start her life in the prefect harmony of numbers) to the late Tellef (1886 1957) and Palma Plathe (1890 1969). Tellef was born in Lillisand, Norway and Palma in Kristensand, Norway. Clara enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. Career wise she worked various jobs throughout her life, including many years as stay-at-home Mom, but her greatest and most challenging work related position was the secretary to the IT Director of a major bank, a position which was her last before retirement. She lived in NY until 1960 when she, Jim, Jimmy, and Bruce moved to Florida. She was the seventh born of her brothers and sisters and the first to be born in the USA followed by Lily. Clara loved our country and loved her Norwegian heritage.

Her joys were her strong relationship with God, her family, her Church, her home, and her dear friends. Clara loved music and all enjoyed listening to her play the piano, even in recent months. We cant leave out her attachment to her big screen TV. She was a loving and devoted daughter, niece, sister, aunt, friend, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Even after a two-year battle with lung cancer and all its horrible side effects, Clara embraced life and all the joys life brought. All will be happy to know she was at peace as she took her last breath and we know she is now in the loving hands and welcoming embrace of our Lord, our Dad, and her sisters and brothers (she was the last living of 8 children).

She was preceded in death by her husband, James George Shelley, Sr. (1927 1991); four brothers; Oscar, Teddy, Earl, and Carl: three sisters, Alice, Louise, and Lily; 10 brother/sister in-laws, and 3 nephews.

Left to cherish her memory and the gift of her life are her sons, James George Shelley and wife Polly (FL) and Bruce Thomas Shelley and wife Tammy (FL); four grandchildren, James George Shelley, III (FL), Melissa Lillian Shelley, (FL), Christopher Jason Shelley (TX), and Kimberly Erin Shelley (FL); and 3 great grandchildren, Cooper James Shelley (FL), Makenzie Lillian Shelley (FL), and Bailey Joy Shelley (FL).

The family is honored to have Rev. Patricia M. Daniels, Senior Pastor at New Horizon United Methodist Church, Southwest Ranches, FL, as our main celebrate at the funeral service.

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