Darlene "Dar" Bailey (née Lazenby) was a devoted and deeply loving Mother, Nana, sister, aunt, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and friend. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on January 1, 2026, in Oakville, Ontario.

Dar was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, on March 15, 1956, to Chloris and Franklin Lazenby. She was the beloved twin sister of Marlene, sharing a lifelong bond that thrived despite physical distance.

Dar's greatest legacy was her unwavering devotion to caring for children. She raised her six daughters with love, patience, and pride, while also playing a meaningful role in the lives of her grandchildren and many children who came into her care through family and friendship. Children were naturally drawn to her warmth and kindness, and she gave freely of herself, often stepping in wherever support was needed. Her daughters were the centre of her world, and she took immense pride in who they were and the lives they built, delighting in sharing their accomplishments with others.

She was kind, generous, compassionate, and empathetic, with a natural instinct for caring for those around her. Genuine and modest, Dar carried herself with dignity and a warm, caring heart, bringing comfort, positivity, and joy wherever she went. She loved conversation, valued connection, and firmly believed that "attitude is 90% of it," a value she lived by each day. A true social butterfly, Dar found joy in being involved in the lives of others and was cherished by all who knew her.

To Dar, family was defined by love, care, and commitment, not limited by blood or legal ties. Throughout her life, she dropped everything to help those in need, whether that meant opening her home, hopping on a plane, or offering steady and unwavering support. She often joked that she would one day write an advice book for her free-spirited charges, titled "Everything I Told You When You Weren't Listening." Dar also adored her dogs, who were constant companions and a great source of comfort. She loved spending time at the cottage and was known to set aside whatever she was doing to join in at a moment's notice, reflecting her spontaneity and eagerness to connect.

Dar proudly served her community with Canada Post for over two decades. She had a creative spirit and made every place she lived feel like home, often painting and decorating them herself. As an adult, she spent several meaningful years living in Texas alongside her siblings, a period of her life that she held especially dear.

Even as she faced health challenges, Dar remained quietly resilient, preferring to focus on others rather than herself. In later years, those challenges led her to become more private, though she continued to deeply value and treasure the relationships she had built over a lifetime.

She is survived by her six daughters, Melissa (Grant) of Switzerland, Laura (Marc) of Toronto, Caitlin (Chris) of Maryland, Nicole (Bassel) of Dubai, Jaden (Leandro) of Ottawa, and Sacha of Oakville. She is also survived by her twin sister, Marlene (John) of Houston, her sister Heather of Houston, her sister-in-law Judith (Peter) of St. Catharines, her former spouse, Peter of Ottawa, her eleven grandchildren, Justin, Josh, Ethan, Austin, Will, Ian, Mackenzie, Logan, Theresa, Arabella, and Taylor, as well as her nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, Chloris (née Thompson) and Franklin Lazenby, her son Jordan, her brother Glenn, her parents-in-law, Rex and Carol Bailey, and other beloved members of her extended family.

Darlene lived with devotion to others and loved with her whole heart. Her legacy of kindness, care, and joy will live on through all who were fortunate to know her.

"Love is patient, love is kind."
1 Corinthians 13:4

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Please reach out to the family if you would like to be notified.

In lieu of flowers, donations to SickKids are appreciated in honour of her lifelong care for children.