Elizabeth J. Casey

Elizabeth “Liz” Jean Casey, of Willington, Conn., formerly of Santa Clarita, Calif. and Mason City, Iowa, died Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at the City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, Calif.

A memorial Mass will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 302 Fifth Street S.E., in Mason City, Iowa.

Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be given in her name to Camp Tanglefoot, Newman Catholic Schools, or the American Cancer Society.

Liz was born July 18, 1948 in Mason City, to Richard and Marion (Vodicka) Casey. She graduated from Newman Catholic High School in Mason City in 1966, and from St. Mary’s College, in South Bend, Ind. in 1970, receiving her degree in elementary education. She went on to receive her M.A. from Chicago State University.

Liz married the love of her life, Bill Bailey, on May 24, 2014, in Willington. They spent the last year living in Connecticut and traveling in Australia.

Liz spent her professional life pursuing her passion of helping young children overcome reading difficulties. For the past 46 years, she taught reading in elementary schools in Chicago and Homewood, Ill. and in Los Angeles. She always maintained that reading was the key to a child’s education, and helped hundreds of children achieve success.

Liz enjoyed crafts, antiques, reading, and traveling. She would always credit the Girl Scouts with inspiring her love of travel, because as a child she so enjoyed attending the Girl Scout Jamborees - she proudly earned the highest scouting honor at the time: the “Curved Bar Award.” She also was an avid sports fan, and loved Notre Dame football and U. Conn women’s basketball, along with all the Chicago teams: the Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, and especially, the Bears. Liz loved redecorating projects and was a great homemaker, host and cook.

Liz is survived by her husband, Bill Bailey, of Willington; her son, Steven Barsevick (and fiancee Sara Tollefson) of Santa Clarita, Calif.; her stepsons, Gregory H. Bailey (husband Jeffry Stevenson) and J Daniel Bailey; her sisters, Susan D’Amico (husband Richard) of Tujunga, Calif. and Mary Casey (husband Sal) of Tujunga; her brothers, Richard Casey Jr. (wife Bobbie) of Clear Lake, Iowa and William Casey (wife Carol) of Iowa City, Iowa; her nieces, Elizabeth D’Amico (husband Patrick) and their children Seth and Veronica Houghton; Kaitlin Doucette, Bridget Casey, and Margaret Casey; her nephews, Gregory D’Amico (wife Emily) and children, Francis and Gabriel, and William Casey; her aunt, Eleanor Vodicka, and many cousins.

Liz was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; and many aunts and uncles.