We Will Miss You, Marguerite!

Our beloved client Marguerite Bailey, 98, of Avon, died September 14, peacefully at her home with family by her side. She was born in Glens Falls, NY, daughter of the late John Spencer Lucas and Marguerite Webster Lucas. Her children Victoria, Marguerite, Madeleine, Joseph, Michael, Mary, Stella, and Frances, fifteen grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren, survive Marguerite. She was per-deceased by her first daughter Regina.

Marguerite was a truly remarkable person. All her caregivers were amazed that she bore and raised 9 children. Very bright and alert through most of the months we cared for her until her last few days, she spent much time regaling all of us with tales of her adventures, her antics with her children, her travel …So much travel!

One of my favorite stories was her recalling her trip across the country in an RV while in her eighties by herself!

This was incredulous to all of us….” BY YOURSELF?? “ We asked. She replied that of course she was not ALONE. She had her bird and her German Shepard with her. What?? No cell phones? (None available then ) No GPS? Ditto. She said all she needed were maps. And many nice people along the way. She had the photo albums of the beautiful western area of the country to prove her story was true.

Marguerite’s graveside service was beautiful and a real tribute to the family she raised. One after the other, her children and grandchildren sang lovely tunes, told funny and heart warming stories, and expressed their love for this remarkable woman in many ways.

We are grateful to our colleagues at McLean hospice for their wonderful care of her and support to her family. We will miss our friendship with Polly, her daughter who assumed the enormous task of coordination and at times, provided the care herself.

Most of all, we will miss the remarkable Marguerite! ■