Obituary of Wendy Bailey

Wendy (nee Lang) Bailey

April 20, 1941 – January 28, 2023

Wendy was born in Sherborne, England and immigrated to Canada with her parents and younger brother on July 2, 1957, on the Ivernia from Southampton, England to Montreal, Quebec.  Before leaving England Wendy had started her nurses training, but never completed it once she moved to Canada. After working in Montreal for several months as a nanny for family friends she moved west, to Vancouver Island, to join her parents and brother.

While living in Alert Bay she worked as a forestry camp cook’s helper, a bank teller, and a telephone operator. It was while working in a forestry camp that she witnessed a fight between the cook and a cougar that had come into the camp and attacked him.  He was from Quebec, a huge and powerful man, and managed to kill the cougar with his bare hands.  Wendy worked with her mom (Phyllis Lang, the camp’s nurse) and they helped save the life of the cook.  She talked about what an experience this had been for her as a teenage girl.

A mutual friend, Rose Offerson, introduced her to Lawrence Bailey and they were married on August 22, 1962, in Courtenay, BC, from that time forward Wendy worked in the all-important role of wife and mother.  She greatly missed her husband Lawrence when he passed in 1999.

Wendy always loved watching westerns, whether movies or series.  Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and The Rifleman were her perennial favourites.  There was no actor greater than John Wayne in her mind.  She also had a beautiful singing voice (although too shy to share it in public) and enjoyed music variety shows (Lawrence Welk) and musicals (The Sound of Music).

Wendy’s quiet faith and personal belief in her Saviour, Jesus, were an important part of her life.  She was ever graceful about her faith and belief, never pushing it on anyone.  For many years she carried the poem “The Cross in My Pocket” in her purse where she could reference it whenever she wished.

Wendy is survived by her children: John (Vicky) Bailey, Chris (Shelley) Bailey, David Bailey, Michelle (Greg) Samchek and Cathy Bailey; and her grandchildren: Nathan Samchek, Bryan Samchek, Emma Bailey, Cole Bailey, and Nicolas Samchek

She was predeceased by her parents (George and Phyllis Lang), her brother (Nick Lang),  and her husband, Lawrence Bailey.