DARTMOUTH — Janice Elizabeth (Oates, March) Bailey, age 88 years, of New Bedford, MA, died Sunday evening (6/6/10) at Brandon Woods of Dartmouth after a brief illness. Her three sons were with her at the time of her passing.
Janice was born on January 25, 1922, in Saugus, MA, daughter of the late Elsworth Leonard and Janice Elizabeth (Seigle) Moody. She lived in Greenfield, MA, prior to relocating to the Wareham/New Bedford area in the mid-70s.
A longtime member of the Smith Mills Christian Congregational Church, she was a member of the Tri-Delta Club, pastoral search committee, knitting/crocheting committee, and served as organist and pianist for fifteen years. Janice was a talented crafts person; an artist specializing in landscape, animal, and floral themes; and a teacher of piano, crafts, and needlework.
Janice's talent for playing the piano included the ability to sight-read music, which allowed her to support a unique characteristic of Sunday services at Smith Mills Church. When asked, anyone in the congregation could request their favorite hymn from the church hymnal without prior notice. Janice would play it beautifully on demand.
What gave Janice the greatest pleasure was hearing of and listening to performances by her piano students who later chose to maintain and further develop the skills they had learned as her students. She welcomed every opportunity to open the eyes of young people to the lifetime rewards of playing music and of music appreciation.
She is survived by her three sons from her first marriage to Ernest J. Oates of Greenfield, MA, who died in 1980: Alan (Nancy) Oates of Gulfport, FL; Philip (Denise) Oates of Schenectady, NY; and Paul (Karen) Oates of Wareham, MA. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Jennifer Oates of Altamonte Springs, FL; Krysten Oates of Providence, RI; Ryan Oates of Randolph, MA; Ashley Oates of Boston, MA; and Megan Oates of Wareham, MA; and her great-granddaughter, Kayla Oates of Altamonte Springs, FL.
Consistent with Janice's expressed wishes there will be no calling hours or funeral service. A memorial service in the near future is being planned, and it will be scheduled at the convenience of the immediate family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Smith Mills Christian Congregational Church, 11 Anderson Way, North Dartmouth, MA, 02747; or to Brandon Woods of Dartmouth, 567 Dartmouth St., South Dartmouth, MA, 02748.