Wesley Reed Chapin
Wesley Reed Chapin, son of former Columbia Falls resident Pat Chapin, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at the family home in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Dec. 19, 2009.
Wesley was born on May 9, 1995, in Thunder Bay. From the beginning, two things were clearly different about Wesley: he progressed much slower than his peers, and he was perpetually happy — so much so that it was often a challenge to feed him as an infant. He wouldn't stop smiling and laughing long enough to eat. Eventually, it became clear during his early school years that
Wesley fell within the autism spectrum. Social communication difficulties are a trademark of autistic children. However, Wesley's "difficulty" was mostly his unreserved, exuberant happiness.
He liked being around people and being physically affectionate, something that is often lacking in autistic children. Wesley proudly graduated from eighth grade in June 2009, and was thrilled to start high school this fall. Unlike many autistic kids, Wesley adapted easily if not eagerly to this kind of major change. He loved shopping with his mother and visiting with the clerks in the stores. His life revolved around his home, school, bowling, and his many wonderful and loving respite workers. Wesley would have to be totally incapacitated from illness to miss school or his weekly bowling league. His bowling scores rarely broke a hundred but his unabashed happy attitude was a perfect game every time and a perfect example for those around him.
Wesley is survived by his half-sister Holly Chapin and her children Bleu and Jack in Baltimore, and his sister, Jessie, and parents, Cathy and Pat, at the family home in Thunder Bay.
Jason Duguid of Thunder Bay, a close friend of the family's, and especially of Wesley, is a special survivor. He is also survived by the family's black labs, Pearl and Opal. Other survivors include Wesley's Grandpa Hugh Skeldon and his wife Flora McDougall of Peterborough, Ontario, his Aunty Gwen and Uncle Ron Bennett of Innisfil, Ontario and their children Jamie, Gavin, and Hayden. Wesley's father was raised in Montana and several survivors hail from the West, including Uncle Phill Chapin and Uncle Mike Chapin, his partner Elaine Miller and sons Mike Chapin, Jr. and Chris Chapin all from Columbia Falls, and Uncle Scott Chapin from Spokane. Wesley was predeceased in death by his grandmother Shirley Skeldon from Bridgenorth, Ontario, and his grandparents Jack and Dorothy Chapin of Columbia Falls.
Wesley Chapin was a young man who easily lived with his 'special needs." Those who knew him had 'special needs," too — the need to be around a bright and shining example of what God intended us to be. Let us never forget or cease to emulate this unconditionally loving and forgiving little lad.
Funeral Services were held Dec. 28, 2009, in St. John The Evangelist Anglican Church, Thunder Bay.
Donations in memory of Wesley Chapin may be made to the Nanabijou Daycare Building fund (Lakehead University, Thunder Bay) or the Autism Society of Ontario (Thunder Bay Branch). Condolences may be left at