Mary Patch Bailey

Mary Josephine Patch Bailey was born July 5, 1920 in Berkshire, NY, the seventh of ten children of Robert C. and Miriam Payne Patch. Father R.C. was the railroad station agent in Berkshire and ran a building supply business; mother Miriam (who, in addition to her own ten children, helped raise six children from her husbands first marriage following their mothers death), placed a high value on her childrens education, and their heritage as descendants of three Mayflower Pilgrims.Mary graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in home economics. She married Robert Lucius Bailey in Berkshire, NY on May 20, 1944 and they both taught school in Whitney Point, NY for many years while raising their three children.A homemaker in the best sense of the word, Mary was never far from her kitchen, sewing machine, or knitting needles. Instilled with her mothers passion for education, she delighted in sharing her expertise with others, both in and out of the classroom. She served as a judge at the Broome County Fair, taught day and evening classes at Whitney Point Central School, and her legacy of self-perfected recipes (her signature molasses cookies especially remembered by many) will be enjoyed for years to come.Mary enjoyed reading, learning, playing Scrabble, and being a wife and mother -roles she infused with much love and patience. She was a selfless, unpretentious, stoic, hard-working person, and a caring sister, daughter, neighbor, and friend.Raised a Congregationalist, she adopted her husbands religion as an adult, and was a longtime active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Whitney Point.Mary and Bob moved to Ithaca in 2005, bringing their married life full circle by returning to the city where they had lived as newlyweds. After a period of declining health, in 2008 Bob preceded his beloved wife in death at age 92; she was reunited with him on December 21, 2012 at age 92. Mary is survived, and will be greatly missed, by her children, Judith Sennett (Swarthmore, PA), Margaret Nichols (Ithaca, NY), and Robert Bailey (Jacksonville, FL); grandsons Jack and David Sennett (PA); sister Betsey Patch Howland (Newark Valley, NY); sisters-in-law Elizabeth Patch (Shillington, PA) and Margaret Hemink (Paramus, NJ); and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.The family would like to thank the many caregivers who extended both Mary and Bobs ability to live independently in Ithaca, and later tended to their needs at Oak Hill Manor. Also greatly appreciated are the faithful friends from Whitney Point and Grace Church who continued to keep in touch and visit regularly after Mary and Bob moved to Ithaca.Arrangements are being provided by MacPherson Funeral Home, Newark Valley (guest book at macphersonfh.com). A private burial in Evergreen Cemetery, Berkshire, NY will be held at the convenience of the family, with a gathering to celebrate Marys life next summer. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to remember Mary is asked to consider a donation in her name to the Berkshire Free Library (P.O. Box 151, Berkshire, NY, 13736, Attn: Susan Bierl), or the Oak Hill Manor Activities Fund (602 Hudson St., Ithaca, NY 14850).Please ring a bell this holiday season for Mary, remembering the words of Zuzu Bailey at the conclusion of Its a Wonderful Life: Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his [her] wings.