Shirley F. Prout

Shirley F. Prout
Shirley Farina Prout, age 89, of Woodbridge, wife of the late Howard Prout, died Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Shirley was born February 3, 1936, in New Haven, daughter of the late Alfred and Sarah (Guinta) Farina; and sister of the late Norma Farina Windsor.
Shirley grew up in Fair Haven Heights on Lexington Avenue and was a lifelong New Haven resident, until moving to assisted living in Woodbridge in 2021. She attended Benjamin Jepson Elementary School, Fair Haven Middle School and was a 1953 graduate of Wilbur Cross High School. In September 1960, Shirley wed Howard Prout at St. Donato's Church in New Haven. They were married for 50 years
Shirley was a survivor. She was strong-minded, a hard worker, the calm in the storm of life. She was always the voice of reason, level-headed and pragmatic. She was never one to judge, only offer sage advice when a situation arose. Shirley's steely resilience was put to the ultimate test when she endured the profound loss of her only son, Kenneth Prout, in 1991, at age 25.
Shirley had just received a clean bill of health after one year of chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer when Ken died. Shirley carried on with her usual grace and class, continued to work and care for her ailing husband. How she did it without falling apart, I will never know, but she was a powerhouse of mind and spirit.
She was a valued employee at the Law Offices of Carmody and Torrance in New Haven for over 30 years, having previously worked for the Law Office of William Cousins.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Pattie Crossley of Beacon Falls; and her two beloved grandsons, Thomas Crossley and William Crossley, also of Beacon Falls.
A visitation for Shirley will be held at MARESCA & SONS Funeral Home, 592 Chapel St., New Haven, on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 8:30 to 10 a.m, with a prayer service at 10 a.m.
Burial will follow at Beaverdale Memorial Park, 90 Pine Rock Ave., New Haven. Please offer condolences at marescafuneralhome.com .