1979 - 2022
Sean Freeman Wenlock was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 16th, 1979 to Michael and Nancy Wenlock. Sean passed away at The Denver Hospice in Colorado on July 7th, 2022.
Sean was born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome which left him deaf and blind, mute, underweight and with a prognosis of developmental issues. His first months were spent in a crib - quiet, barely moving. But one day that all changed: while changing Sean, Nancy ran her finger over his ribs and he let out a huge giggle as his very first sound! Nancy jumped! The game was afoot! More tickling led to more loud infectious giggles as he wriggled to get away from the tickling. That's how Sean started to move his body and he never stopped moving after that. Sean didn't walk until he was 4, but he was always curious and active in whatever way he could be! Sean came everywhere with us.
He ate in Indian restaurants in Copenhagen, he went on the sea ferry from Denmark to England to visit his Grandma and aunt there. He charmed everyone with his wonderful smile, loud laugh and curious nature. He was never aware of his disabilities, only others were. Later we lived in Florida and that's where Sean learned to swim. Mick stood on the steps of the shallow end of a pool while Sean experimented with moving away from Dad. By the summer's end, at the age of 7, Sean had taught himself to swim. His style was unorthodox, but he could float and move in water over his head for hours from that time onward. Sean lived with his family in Copenhagen, Florida, England and finally Colorado.
He lived in Denver, Strasburg and finally Byers. Sean rode horses with Mum, went for walks with Dad and he swam almost every weekday over the years. He had many aides who took him out for activities, chief of whom is Doc Davis, whose great care spanned 20 years of taking Sean out to walk and swim! Sean had a talent for attracting wonderful people and the list is long. One was Kevin Bingham, a Denver neighbor Sean's age, who took Sean riding on his family's ponies. Kevin also took Sean to Elitch Gardens where Sean loved riding every single ride - except he wasn't so fond of the Tower of Doom! And Holly Carlson, a retired nurse who dropped everything last year to help Sean and the family through the 3 consecutive weeks of radiation and chemo treatment of the brain tumor that eventually took Sean's life.
Sean is survived by his parents, his stepbrother, Chris Wenlock, aunts Virginia Allen and Jane Allen, cousins Megan Showers and Geoff Showers, great aunt Elizabeth Case, 1st cousin once-removed, Jeff Case, and Godparents Tom and Sharon Croghan. Sean made people around him better. He was a rare gift and we were blessed by his presence. In his entire life, he never hurt a single person in any way. Any charitable gifts in Sean’s name may be made to the building of the new monastery for the Capuchin Poor Clares here in Byers. https://capuchinpoorclaresdenver.org/index.php/en/support-our-mission/
MASS
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Friday, July 15, 2022
Our Lady of the Plains Catholic Church
186 N. McDowell St.
Byers, Colorado, United States
INTERMENT
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Friday, July 15, 2022
Byers Cemetery
E 5th Ave
Byers, Colorado, United States
