About Us

The B. C. Bailey Funeral Home takes pride in having served all faiths since its establishment in 1879, and offers tasteful, traditional and spacious visitation rooms, accommodating up to 120 persons for viewing and funerals. An inter-faith chapel and a music sound system throughout are also available. In addition, the fully air conditioned facility provides ample parking. The facility is accessible to the handicapped, including a wheel-chair on premise for those in need. The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home staff is experienced in providing gracious and unobtrusive service, which coupled with the peaceful, traditional surroundings, guarantees a tribute that will be long remembered and cherished by loved ones. The B.C. Bailey Funeral Home and its staff offer funeral services, memorial services, cremation services and prepaid funerals with irrevocable and revocable contracts.

Robert B. Bailey

Robert B. Bailey, (Bob), the current owner of the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, joined his father in the business in 1967; and except for a tour in the U.S. Air Force from 1970 to 1974, he has continuously served the community. He was a graduate of Leicester College in 1966 and graduated from the American Academy MacAllister Institute of Funeral Service in 1967. Robert and his wife, Darlene Cannata Bailey, have three grown children: Michele Bailey Chaudhry, Michael R. Bailey and Matthew R. Bailey. Robert is active in the community as a past president of the Wallingford Rotary Club being honored as both a Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the year. He is the vice president of the In Memoriam Cemetery Assoc. He has in the past served on the boards of the Wallingford Jaycees, Y.M.C.A, Wallingford Symphony, the former Meriden-Wallingford Hospital. He is a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

Matthew R. Bailey

Matthew R. Bailey, Vice-president of the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, is the fourth generation of the Bailey family to serve the community. He attended Holy Trinity School in Wallingford and Xavier High School in Middletown prior to his studies at The Catholic University of America(CUA) in Washington, DC. From CUA, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. While in Washington, Matthew received his Third Degree with the Knights of Columbus CUA Council # 9542 and was employed by CUA and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Matthew was a student at the America Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service (AAMI) in New York City where he was elected by his peers to serve as class president. Following his graduation from AAMI and successful completion of the Funeral Service Conference Examing Board's National Examination, Matthew joined the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home full time.

Matthew is a member of the Wallingford Rotary Club and has serves on the boards of the Rotary Club, the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, the Wallingford Family YMCA, and the Wallingford Public Library.

Matthew is also a member of the faculty at the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City - the premier funeral service school in the United States.

Shawn M. Smith

Shawn M. Smith, Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, joined the B.C. Bailey Funeral Home in February of 2007. He is a native of Michigan but made Connecticut his home in 2004.

He is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where he received the Homer D. Leffler Award for excellence in counseling and funeral arranging.

Shawn began his military career at Fort Knox, KY. He served as a Mortuary Affairs Specialist within the Army. While in the Army he was stationed overseas in Yongsan, South Korea, serving in the USFK Army Mortuary.  In Korea he was a soldier within the 305th Quartermaster Company. While in Korea Shawn worked in search and recovery operations with CILHI(Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii).  With the help of other soldiers he was responsible for the repatriation of several MIA soldiers of the Korean War. He is a proud veteran of the War on Terror.  Post 9-11 Shawn was stationed at Fort Lee, VA with the 54th Quartermaster Mortuary Affairs Company. He received numerous decorations during his enlistment.

Shawn also studied at the Virginia Institute of Forensic Medicine and Science in Richmond, VA where he specialized in Covert Burial Operations. He is a member of the Moose Lodge, American Legion, and active within his church. Shawn brings years of experience in funeral service to the Bailey Team and specializes in veterans benefits and issues. He makes his home in Wallingford, and enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.