Joan H. Bagley

WORCESTER-Joan H. (Hibbard) Bagley, 87, of Worcester died Thursday, May 7 at UMASS Medical Center.


She leaves three daughters, Anne B. Nielsen and her husband, James of Glendale, CA; Janet B. Foley and her husband, John of Holden and Barbara B. Chartier of Holden; six grandchildren, Rebecca Corey, Alison Teachout, Prescott Chartier, Laura Foley, John Foley and Andrew Foley; two great grandchildren Maddilyn and Abigail; and nieces and nephews. Her former husband, H. Prescott Bagley, II died in 2005. A son, Herbert Prescott Bagley, III (Trip) passed away in 1981 and a brother, George A. Hibbard, predeceased her. She was born in Brookline, daughter of Bement F. and Margaret (McCarthy) Hibbard and was educated in Brookline Public Schools. She received her BA from Radcliffe College and served as her class treasurer for the past few decades.


Joan was very active in volunteering and assisting organizations throughout the City of Worcester. She spent a lifetime of supporting and giving back to the community she so loved and to women's causes. She served as Director and on the Planning Board of Park Spirit; Vice President and Director of Preservation Worcester; Honorary Director of the Worcester Girls Club; Officer of the Worcester Junior League; served 18 years as Board Member and Executive Chair of the City of Worcester Planning Board; Board of Registrars for the Committee on Zoning; National Board Member for Girls Club of America; President and Director of Worcester Girls Inc.; President and Director of the Worcester Craft Center; Founding Chair of the Worcester Voluntary Action Center; Officer and Director of the League of Women Voters; Member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society; served on the Advisory Board of Broad Meadowbrook Sanctuary and a member of the First Unitarian Church. Joan also spent time working as the administrative aide to Mayor Sara J. Robertson and as coordinator of Community Relations for the former Consumers Bank.


Joan was very active in the Paxton Tennis Club, where she served as club coordinator with responsibilities of membership, programming, public relations and court scheduling activities. Joan was also a longtime member of Tatnuck Country Club and, as an avid golfer, was Ladies Club Champion eight times. Some of her happiest times were the many summers she spent on Cape Cod enjoying the water, the sand and the view from her beachfront house.


A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, May 12 at 11:00 AM in the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street. Burial will be private in Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Girls Incorporated of Worcester, 125 Providence Street, Worcester, 01604. Arrangements in the care of Callahan Fay Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street.