In the early morning hours of January 15th 2020, Viola Bailey passed as she had lived, peacefully at home, knowing she was loved by her seven children: Dianne Allen (Mac),Ruth Bean (Ron),John (Marita),Jim (Holly),Steve (Michelle),Don and Kristine (Tim); her ten grandchildren: Leigh Fabi (Greg),Christie and Jodi Allen, Kim Bean, Jonathan (predeceased 2018) and Jacob Bailey (Mallory), Alex Bailey, Kristopher, Shawn and Shannon Bailey and her great grandchildren.
Mom/Gramma will be deeply missed as she was the heart of the family and her home was the hub, always open to everyone. She accepted people as they were and gave her love unconditionally to every member of her large family. Her relationship with each one of her children and grandchildren was special and everyone had their own deep connection with her.
Generous, kind and hard working she lived through some tough times and survived, becoming stronger than she knew.
Raised in Cobalt, Ontario and speaking primarily French until she met her future husband George Bailey (predeceased 1999),Vi quickly learned to speak English perfectly.(Although she did make funny revisions to several English words) Community - minded, she ran for city council and served on several municipal boards including the North Bay Public Library and Cassellholme. At Holy Name Church, she served as President of the CWL, sang in the church choir, co-ordinated the funeral luncheons and served communion at Leisure World (now Water’s Edge).She enjoyed teaching French and, in recent years, continued the practice, looking forward to weekly “French Lessons” with her grandchildren.
Content with simple pleasures, she was almost as proud of her bowling trophies and solving a four-star Sudoku as she was of her Woman Of Distinction Award presented to her in 1997 by the North Bay and Area Business and Professional Woman’s Club.
As well as her husband and grandson, Vi was predeceased by her parents Philippe Presse and Maria (nee Nadeau) of Cobalt and her siblings Rita Gagnon, Eddie Presse and infant brother Aurele. She will be greatly missed by her sister Lucille Fletcher and brothers Ernie and Marcel Presse.
Thank you to LHIN for co-ordinating Vi’s care at home and to the VON PSWs that treated her so gently during the past few months. A very special thank you to Paramed nurses Chelsea Chadbourn and Sandra Sargent for their excellent care and compassion and going above and beyond to address our concerns.
The family will receive visitors Sunday, January 19th,2020 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, at McGuinty Funeral Home (North Bay). A service will be held at Holy Name Church at 11:00 am on Monday, January 20th, 2020. Memorial donations to the Nipissing Serenity Hospice, the Canadian Cancer Society or to a deserving local charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.