Stella C. Bailey

Whitinsville- Stella C. (Sova) Bailey, 104, of North Main Street peacefully passed away on Monday June 3, 2024. Northbridge's oldest resident, Stella was just three months shy of her 105th birthday.
With a lifetime devotion to her family, Stella is survived by a son, Dr. Glenn Bailey and his wife Cheryl of Kauai, Hawaii; two daughters, Christine Scanlon and her husband Thomas of Sutton and Beth Kosciak and her husband John of Northbridge; a son-in-law Robert Domey of North Smithfield, RI; eight beloved grandchildren, Monica, Michele, Jennifer, Mark, Kevin, Jaclyn, Allison, and Megan and two great-grandchildren - Evan and Kaileigh; four sisters, Cecilia "Sis" Parker of Webster, Elizabeth LaFosse, Chesterline Dion, and Valerie Conlin, all of Whitinsville, and many loving nieces and nephews. Stella was predeceased by her devoted husband of 65 years, local poet Russell Bailey in 2006; an infant son, Douglas Bailey in 1948; a daughter, Bonnie Domey in 1995; and a great-grandson, Nathan Scanlon in 2023. She was also predeceased by a brother Joseph Sova and two sisters, Catherine Valis and Blanche Beaudoin.
A lifelong member of St. Patrick's Parish, Stella's unwavering faith saw her through over a century of joys and challenges. Stella was born in the Plummers section of Whitinsville to Polish immigrants on September 8, 1919 and was the daughter of Karolina (Kramarz) Sova and Stanley Sova. Blessed with the Polish gift of STOLAT, she survived the Spanish Influenza outbreak as an infant and the covid pandemic of recent years. She was educated in the Northbridge Public Schools.
Always a hard worker, Stella was employed as a nanny in Worcester as a teenager during the latter years of the Great Depression. In adulthood, she worked part-time for several area companies including the former Whitin Machine Works in the Bolt Department, Whitinsville Water Company, Parker Insurance, Honey Farms, and at the former Mencow Clothing Store in Whitinsville as a sales woman and buyer for 20 years.
Stella's primary calling was that of wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She cherished every family member who was part of her "family's life story". Stella's greatest joy was raising her own family and greatest prayer was to witness the growth of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She remained interested and active in their lives until the very end of her long and inspiring one.
Stella was an impeccable housekeeper and exceptional cook. She enjoyed crocheting, couponing, live theater, flower and vegetable gardening, animals, and nature, especially the birds who flocked to her feeders. Stella enjoyed square dancing with her husband, their cat Cookie, and traveling locally and internationally. Together they visited Hawaii five times, Poland twice, Canada, and explored Alaska by land and cruise ship for her 80th birthday. She vacationed many summers on Cape Cod.
Stella honored her Polish heritage throughout her lifetime with frequent letters, phone calls, and by mailing hundreds of parcels of clothing and other needs to that country of her ancestral roots. Stella was a private woman of timeless beauty similar to the pearls which she loved and often wore. She had a sensitive, endearing, and wholesome nature full of heart, strength of spirit, selfless generosity, and common sense. As a wise centenarian and matriarch, she will be missed by many.
The family would like to thank the staff of Advinia Care, Northbridge and New England Hospice for their exceptional care for Stella.
Calling hours for family and friends will be on Thursday, June 6 from 4-7 PM at Jackman Funeral Home, 12 Spring St., Whitinsville with a funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Church, 1 Cross St., Whitinsville on Friday, June 7th at 11:00am. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Whitinsville. Stella's funeral Mass will also be live streamed, click here to watch
. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of the Valley Regional School, 75 Mendon St., Uxbridge, MA 01569 or the Mass Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, due to Stella's faith and love for children and birds. To leave a condolence message for her family please visit Jackmanfuneralhomes.com
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