Joan C. Bailey, 86, of Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 22, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Francis R. and Sophia V. (Kaczor) Murphy. Joan was raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, Class of 1958. She went on to study at Salem State, where she earned her Master’s degree in French.
Following her education, Joan began her career at General Electric in Lynn as a secretary, where she met her beloved husband, Robert Bailey. The couple made their home in Manchester-by-the-Sea and enjoyed many decades of 4th of July parades from their front porch on Pine Street, long walks on Singing Beach, going for drives to local beaches and Tuck’s Point and visiting local restaurants like the Village in Essex. The two shared 33 years of marriage until his passing in 2007.
Joan later worked as a real estate agent before dedicating her time to caring for her mother. She was a devout Catholic and a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. She found great comfort in her faith, enjoying Bible study and praying for loved ones.
Joan had a love for music, movies, and art, and especially enjoyed visiting museums in Boston. She also cherished her travels to Paris with her husband, memories she held dear throughout her life. Joan was a devoted wife, sister, aunt, daughter and dedicated much of her life to caring for her family. She will be remembered for her kindness and her willingness to help others in any way she could.
She is survived by her beloved sister, Susan Kellar; her nieces, Suzanne Carranza and Kristen Lee; and her nephew, Peter Murphy. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Richard Murphy and Thomas Murphy.
Funeral Services: The Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 1st at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 62 School Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea. A burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery in Manchester, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Robert Bailey.
