Lynne Silliman Wilkens, 84, of Southbury, Connecticut, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at HavenCare at Litchfield Woods, surrounded by the love of her family.

Lynne was born on August 17, 1942, in New York City and was adopted by Florence and Leland Silliman, who raised her as their beloved daughter. She attended Purchase Elementary School and Pleasantville High School before earning her associate degree from Vermont College in Montpelier, Vermont.

She began her career as secretary to the Human Resources Manager at General Precision Laboratories and later worked as a secretary at Scarborough School. But the career that mattered most to Lynne began when she became a mother to her two children, Ray and Heather. She devoted many years to raising her family, serving as a room parent for both children and as head of the PTO at Carmel Elementary School.

When she returned to the workforce, Lynne worked at C.R. Gibson, became Office Manager in the Guidance Department at Pomperaug High School, and ultimately completed her career in the Marketing Department at Naugatuck Valley Community College.

On June 4, 1966, Lynne married Raymond “Ray” Wilkens, beginning a partnership that would span six decades. Just a few months before her passing, Lynne and Ray celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 4, 2026.

Together, they built a lifetime of memories filled with family, friends, boating and sailing, RV adventures, travel, beaches, good food, conversation, and countless gatherings. Some of their happiest years were spent at Ocean Resorts in Florida, where they found a wonderful community of friends and made countless memories together. Whether enjoying the Florida sunshine, spending time with friends, painting, sharing food and drinks, or simply enjoying the life they had created there, Ocean Resorts became a very special part of their story.

Ray was often the planner, while Lynne was the organizer—the one who made sure all the pieces actually fell into place.

Lynne was creative, meticulous, practical, loving, and unmistakably herself. She sewed her children’s clothes when they were young and filled the family Christmas tree with homemade ornaments. She loved crafting, reading, painting in Florida, word games, playing games with her family, flowers—at least until they made a mess—and organizing just about anything that could possibly be organized.

She loved to bake, although cooking was another matter entirely. Somehow, she still managed to make two dinners every night when Heather was young because her daughter was such a picky eater. Her apple pie became legendary in the family, particularly with her son-in-law Troy, who steadfastly maintained that Lynne’s tasted better than Heather’s—even though they used the same recipe. Her Christmas cookies and family recipes will continue to be made, carrying a little piece of her into the celebrations and traditions still to come.

And then there were the wonderfully specific things that made Lynne Lynne. There was the infamous wooden spoon—not for spanking, but for banging loudly against the wooden staircase when the kids needed a little reminder to behave. More than one wooden spoon met its demise that way over the years.

She was also known for rearranging just about anything that someone else had already arranged, a habit forever memorialized in the family as “rearranging the coconuts.” No one is entirely sure anymore where the coconut reference came from, but everyone knew exactly what it meant: if something had been put somewhere, Lynne could probably find a better place for it.

She liked things organized, she liked things done properly, and she had her own very definite ideas about how both should happen. These are the little things her family will remember with a smile—the expressions, habits, stories, and inside jokes that don’t seem particularly important at the time, but ultimately become some of the most treasured pieces of a person.

Above all, Lynne loved spending time with her family and friends. Whether gathered around a table with snacks, playing a game, traveling in the RV, spending time on the boat or near the ocean, or simply sitting together talking, it was the people she loved who mattered most.

Lynne is survived by her husband of 60 years, Raymond Wilkens; her son, Raymond Wilkens, and grandchildren Sarah Etore and Raymond Wilkens; her daughter, Heather Wilkens Mogielnicki, and son-in-law Troy Mogielnicki, and grandchildren Leah Mogielnicki and Trevor Mogielnicki; her great-grandchildren, Vinny Etore and Luca Etore; her sister-in-law, Maureen Silliman; her niece, Samantha Silliman Webster; and her nephew, Garrett Silliman.

She was predeceased by her parents, Florence and Leland Silliman, and her brother, Ronald Silliman.

In accordance with Lynne’s wishes, there will be no funeral or wake. Her family will gather for a private Celebration of Life at a future date—a time to share stories, laughter, food, photographs, and memories of a woman whose presence is woven through so many lives.

Memorial contributions in Lynne’s honor may be made to Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven.