OXFORD – Angela Hailey-Gregory, 39, of Oxford passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 14, 2009, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.
She was born on Oct. 5, 1969, in Tustin, Calif., the daughter of Roger and Maureen Hailey. She was married to James Gregory on Aug. 17, 1996, in All Saints Chapel, Morris.
Along with her husband, James of Oxford, she is survived by her children, Sara Maureen and Audrey Claire Gregory of Oxford; her mother and step-father Maureen and Robert Heller of Diamondhead, MS; her father Roger Hailey of Costa Rica; father-in-law and mother-in-law Peter and Audrey Gregory of Morris; sister Melissa Scholes-Williams and husband Brian Williams of Cooperstown; sister-in-law Stacia Gregory-Norman and husband Gary Norman of Morris; brother-in-law John Gregory of Oneonta; her niece and nephews Galina and Roman Norman and Archer Williams; her Grandmother Sheila Hailey of Lyford Cay, Bahamas; Great-Aunt Betty Fishwick of Pleasant Hill, CA; and several aunts and uncles including: Mark and Laurie Hailey of Walnut Creek, CA; John and Barbara Hailey of Danville, CA; Jane Hailey and Robert Miranda of Vancouver, BC; Steven and Susan Hailey of Atherton, CA; Diane Hailey and Ross Brown of Menlo Park, CA.
Angela was a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall in Fairfield, CT. She received a BA from Wesleyan University in Middleton, CT where she met her husband. Furthering her education, she earned her Master’s degree in English Literature from SUNY Cortland. She was a professor of literature and was pursuing her doctorate at Binghamton University. Always active in theatre, she continued acting after graduating from Wesleyan, touring the United States with a national troupe. She had a love for the arts, enjoyed teaching and travel, and was an avid reader. Angela was the granddaughter of the novelist Arthur Hailey, and she shared his talent for writing. She was dedicated to fitness and health and instructed classes at the YMCA in Norwich. By far, what Angela loved most was her family, reveling in holiday traditions and family celebrations. A devoted wife and mother, she was also fiercely independent, and displayed a joy for life to all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held at Zion Episcopal Church, Morris at 1 p.m. Thursday, with the Rev. Robert E. Witt, Jr., rector, officiating. Burial will follow in Hillington Cemetary, Morris.
Friends may call at the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main St., Oxford on Wednesda from 5 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Zion Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 267, Morris, NY, 13808 or the YMCA, 68-70 N Broad St., Norwich, NY, 13815.