Michele Renee Bailey

Michele Renee Bailey passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2025, at the age of 68. Michele was born in Baton Rouge, LA on May 22, 1956 to Mary and James (Jim) Bailey, both New Orleans transplants who fell in love with the city one Mardi Gras, many years ago. The third of four siblings, she was a quintessential middle child, forever the peacekeeper. Michele spent the early years of her life at the huts on LSU’s campus, where her father was studying to be a geologist. After brief stints in New Iberia, LA and Midland, TX, his job took the family back to New Orleans. She attended Holy Name of Jesus School and later Mercy Academy, where her gifts for sarcasm and her quick wit were fostered.

Michele made her way back to LSU for college, and inspired by her roommate, decided to pursue a career in nursing. After graduating with her BSN, she worked in the surgical ICU at Hotel Dieu and saw the hospital’s transition to become University Hospital. She was proud to be a nurse, but never hesitated to mention that the first thing she did after graduating from nursing school was to throw away her ridiculous hat. Like many ICU nurses, she had a penchant for dark humor, but her compassion and empathy for others earned her a reputation as an exceptional caregiver. Ever the advocate for her patients, she was fearless and outspoken, never hesitating to express disagreement with a plan of care or question orders that she felt were not in the patient’s best interests. There is an adage in healthcare that nurses and doctors make the worst patients, and Michele was no exception.

Michele unexpectedly retired from her professional nursing career in 2010, when she took time off to take care of her partner, Gene Traina, who was diagnosed with lung cancer and sadly passed away in April 2011. Afterwards, she tried her hand at property management and learned many new skills along the way. Michele was a “do-it-yourself" kind of woman. Why would she pay someone to do something that she could learn to do herself? If she didn’t know how to do something, she would pay close attention so that she would know how to do it the next time she came across that problem. When she did (begrudgingly) ask for help, she would repay others' kindness with a batch of brownies or chocolate-chip cookies. She was an incredible cook and baker, something she would often deny, claiming that she just had the right recipes.

All those who knew Michele were blessed to have known her. If you didn’t know Michele, you may have recognized her as the woman walking a giant, fluffy polar bear around Uptown. Michele loved her family deeply and was extraordinarily kind and selfless, often at fault. She is survived by her loving daughter, Lauren Traina of New Orleans, LA. She was preceded in death by her sister and best friend, Denise Bailey Scanlon (Patrick), and will be sorely missed by her remaining siblings, Cheryl Bishop Boyd (Rich) of Folsom, CA, and JT Bailey III (Carol) of Belle Chasse, LA, as well as her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Her legacy will live on in the young nurses she helped precept, residents she put in their place, and patients and family members whose lives she impacted.

A celebration of life will take place at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on March 28, 2025, with visitation from 10:30 AM – noon as well as a brief chapel service and blessing at noon, followed by a reception for close friends and family. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Louisiana SPCA or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.