Rita R. Bailey, 95, of East Branch, died on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Roscoe Nursing Home. She was born on Dec. 8, 1929 at St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, the only daughter and one of three children (Bernard and Robert) to Peter and Norma (Sharpe) Reynolds.
Rita married Clyde Finkle and he predeceased her in 1990. She then married Joseph Bailey in 2005 and he predeceased her in 2024.
Rita had the ability to connect with people, to laugh, and to always look at the bright side of life. She enjoyed reading (particularly about strange and unexplained phenomena) and her main hobby was genealogy, to which she devoted years of work and made innumerable family connections. Rita loved to travel and to go camping. She took joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Surviving are two sons, Stephen (Robin) Constantine and Mark Constantine; six grandchildren: Tyler (Celin Wittman), Justin, Colin (Natasha Rastegar), Christopher Constantine (Megan), Shawn (Regina) and Joseph (Lacey) Finkle; six great-granddaughters: Kayla and Keira Finkle, Isabelle and Sophia Constantine, and Siena and Ava Constantine.
Rita was predeceased by three sons: William Moers and Carl and John Finkle.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, April 6, from 5-7 at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock. A funeral service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, April 7. Burial will follow in the East Branch Cemetery, East Branch, after which all attendees are invited to attend a reception at the East Branch Fire Department. Arrangements by Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock.
