Arlene Fair Wells

1937 - 2022

Arlene Fair Wells
It is with extreme sorrow, that after a long, extended illness, that the family of Arlene Fair Wells has bid Fair Well to her, and she has gone to join her earthly parents, Wilson and Gertrude Horesco Fair, in that heavenly realm where sickness is no more. Arlene was born in Derby on August 28, 1937 and grew up on the family farm in the lower White Hills section of Shelton. She attended Huntington School and later Shelton High School, where she was an outstanding student, graduating in the top 10% of her 1954 class. Her college years were spent at Southern Connecticut State University, where she majored in Special Education. Arlene taught school for the Stratford School System in Putney for five years, leaving to raise her two sons, Bradley and Schuyler. Arlene was a member of the Huntington Congregational Church and an accomplished piano player, who studied for 11 years under Miss Minnie Bishop, a Huntington piano and violin teacher. Arlene's love of music led her to sing in the church choir where she was a member for over 65 years. After several years, the boys being in school, Arlene teamed with Kay Cameron, a church member and started the Huntington Center Nursery School, working there for 29 years, the last 20 working with her good friend, Barbara Grisgraber. She made many friends at this job and students and parents alike, would always say hello when they would see her. Arlene loved traveling and toured the West in the summer of 1986 by car with her family, and they visited most of the National Parks and Historic places in America. She also loved bus to New York City, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and the Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshires. One of her favorite places was Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, where she honeymooned after her marriage in 1961. She returned there two more times, once with Edwin and Barbara Grisgraber, and another time with her high school and college friends, Alberta and Pasquale Inzero. Arlene leaves behind her devoted husband of 60 years, Royal Birdseye Wells with whom she worked and assisted him in his real estate development, along with her two sons, Bradley and his wife Patricia, and Schuyler "Sky" and his wife, Amy. Arlene had a special love for her four grandchildren, Timothy and wife, Erin, Joshua and fiancée Sage Bagwell, Caroline and fiancé Phil Rokosa, and Deirdre and fiancé Sawyer Gunnell. Being a schoolteacher, she had a special love for her great-grandchildren, Elijah "Eli," Henry and Georgia Wells. Arlene also maintained a close relationship with some of her first cousins, who were special to her, the Reverend Elliot Fair (Ann) and James A. Fair (Fay) with whom she grew up with as neighbors in the Walnut Tree Hill Road area. Arlene also maintained contact with her Horesco first cousins, Reverend John Horesco (Jean) and his brothers, Ronald and Roger.
The family would like to thank the medical staff at Griffin Hospital and the Smilow Cancer Hospital for their caring treatment and for the excellent care she received at Bishop Wicke Health Center in Shelton. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Huntington Congregational Church Music Fund at 19 Church Street, Shelton, CT 06484. Or Bishop Wicke Health Rehab Center, 584 Long Hill Ave., Shelton, CT 06484. Friends may call on Monday May 2, 2022 from 4 to 7 pm at the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Rd., Shelton. A vigil prayer service will be held at 6:45 pm. Masks are requested when attending the wake and services at the funeral home. Friends and family are invited to attend her funeral service on Tuesday at 11 am in the Huntington Congregational Church, 19 Church St., Shelton. Masks must be worn at the church services. Burial will follow in Lawn Cemetery.