Deely was born in Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA, on 9 July 1866, to parents Michael Deely (1840–1906) and Mary Clark (1842–1932). She had eight siblings, including Patrick (1870–1959), Laura (1873–1966), Francis (1876–1926), Thomas (1878–1960), Joseph (1881–1918) and Charles (1883–1977). Her father apparently lived in California for some time, where he had gone in the California Gold Rush.
Deely never married nor had children, and when asked by a reported whether or not she ever married during her 106th birthday party, she jokingly said: “Not yet.” She was a lifelong resident of Lee, firstly living in her family home, and later in the new one built in 1903 on the site of the earlier one that was torn down because it was too small. She operated a dressmaker business from her home from 1890 up until the late 1920s.
At the age of 103, she was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Lee. At the age of 106, she lived with her younger brother Charles (aged 89 at the time). At the time, she was still doing housework and cooking an occasional meal. According to her brother, she was mentally alert and physically active up until two months before her death, when she was confined to her bedroom. When asked about the secret of her good health, she replied: “staying busy and eating three good meals a day.”
Deely passed away of respiratory arrest in Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA, on 1 January 1977, at the age of 110 years, 176 days. She was survived by her brother Charles (aged 93).
In July 1976, she celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming the second documented supercentenarian in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, after Nellie Scace (1864–1974).
On 23 October 1976, at the age of 110 years, 106 days, she surpassed Scace’s final age, becoming the oldest person to ever live in Massachusetts. Her final age was later surpassed by Anna Murphy.
At the time of death, she was the oldest living person in the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 28 July 2023.
* “Bridget M. Deely” – FindAGrave
* “Bridget Deely is 103 today” – The Berkshire Eagle, 9 July 1969
* “Bridget Deely celebrates her 106th birthday” – The Berkshire Eagle, 12 July 1972
* “Bridget Deely marks 107th birthday” – The Berkshire Eagle, 10 July 1973
* “Death claims Bridget Deely at 110; Lee resident was oldest in country” – The Berkshire Eagle, 3 January 1977