Jean-Anne Ward Bailey, of Venice, died peacefully at home Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Newark, N.J., Feb. 18, 1927, and grew up in Short Hills, N.J. She attended Green Mountain College, Vermont, graduated from the Berkeley Secretarial School, East Orange, N.J., and worked as a secretary and bank teller. Later, as a teacher’s aide and attendance officer at Rumson Fair-Haven Regional High School, her warm spirit, advice and genuine caring nature had a strong positive influence in the lives of many young people, unbeknownst to others.

A loving wife and mother, she was also a multi-talented homemaker, expert seamstress and avid knitter. In her youth she sang in church choirs and continued into adulthood sharing her lovely soprano voice with her friends at informal gatherings.

She was predeceased by her parents, Lt. Col. E. Bernard and Helen Shoyer Ward, and is survived by her husband of 64 years, Joseph Foster Bailey, Venice; brother, Joseph Ward, Danbury, Conn.; sister, Mary Beth Orben, and husband, Winston, Englewood, and Charlotte, Vt.; daughters, Kathleen Grammer, Scarborough, Maine, and Tiz Miller and husband, David, Englewood; and grandchildren, Sean Verner and Tracey Jean Wickham and husband, Robert, Natick, Mass.

Services: A service celebrating her life will be held Wednesday, Sept. 5, 10:30 a.m., at Venice Presbyterian Church, The Rialto, Venice, 34285, 941-488-2258.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Venice Presbyterian Church or your favorite charity.