Glad (Gladys) Baird
April 8, 1922 to January 14, 2022
Obituary
Glad, the last of the Harvey girls, passed peacefully away at her home on January 14, 2022, Gladys (nee Harvey) Baird was in her 100th year.
Known as the Cookie Lady to friends and neighbours, Glad always said that her generosity was actually an act of selfishness – giving to others made her happy. Glad was incredibly generous and showed her warm heart with her baking. Whether it was the hundreds of cookies she baked for her granddaughter’s wedding (at the spry age of 94), the mini cherry cakes she always had on hand to show someone she cared or the countless Maple Creams she sent to the Miller Centre, Glad took care of people. Above all, she loved her family. Without question, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her joy over recent years. Blessed with many “huggles” for her efforts, she taught generations of children to bake and decorate her signature cookies.
During her nearly 100 years, Glad felt the ground shake in St. John’s in 1929 when the tsunami hit St Lawrence (she was told it was Lester’s horses). She saw the Hindenburg pass overhead and heard the abdication broadcast. If you told her your family name, she could generally tell you something about your parents, grandparents, or the house you grew up in and who lived there before. Glad remembered family histories and rich stories of St. John’s in vivid detail, and she kept all the secrets she was told to the end.
Over the last decade, she let more stories out of the ‘vault,’ but her family always loved the ones she told about herself the most. Glad was one of Memorial University’s early students, back when it was still a college. She talked about her time as a star player in organized sports, which lasted throughout her academic career. She called herself a “tomboy,” painting a picture of herself that was very different from the beautiful and elegantly put together woman we knew and loved. As a trained meteorologist in the Canadian Air Force, Glad was told that she would be stationed overseas. Excited, she asked where she was going, only to be told “Gander, my child.” She nevertheless received danger pay for her work on flights from the base. Once again, this is an image that seems at odds with the picture of a brilliant knitter and seamstress who kept her family clad in everything from traditional smock dresses to hand-knit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sweaters. Glad was so many things, and she was everything to us.
Glad was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of 50 years, James A. Baird, with his kind smile and ice blue eyes, and her daughter Gillian Penn (Ron). She is survived by her daughter Susan Atkinson (David) and son James Baird; Gillian’s husband Ron and their children Colin, Nick and Helen (Josh), Susan and David’s sons DJ (Clare) and Ben (Katherine) and daughter Jane; James’ daughters Jennifer (Daniel), Sarah (Alexander) and Alexandra (Blair) and their mother Angela Sargent; DJ and Clare’s children Fiona and Lisa; Ben and Katherine’s children Sam and Beren; Jennifer and Daniel’s children Laurel and Nathaniel; and Alexandra’s children Al, Sarah, and Joseph.
The Baird, Atkinson, and Penn families would like to thank all the kind friends and neighbours (past and present) who kept Glad’s fridge stocked, and her vases filled with fresh flowers during Covid. Susan O’Leary, Yvonne Earle, the Pike sisters, Karen Martin, Lynn Mercer, the Landells family, the Goodall family and Steele family, her many bridge partners, and so many others. Your kindness helped her family ensure she was able to stay in her beloved home for over 71 years.
Join us in raising a glass of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry to Glad.
No visitation, cremation already taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Myeloma UK.
To all the family I send my deepest sympathy. Glad was my Mother’s first cousin and and was always special to us. She was such a loving and caring person.
Janet Martin
To the Baird family my wife Betty and I would like to pass our condolences to you and yours on the passing of a great lady and yes the last of the Harvey girls at almost a 100 years she had a long life and will be remembered fondly in our thoughts and memories our thoughts are with you guys at this time grieving George and Betty story
James and Susan. So sorry to hear of your moms passing. A wonderful lady and loved by all. Our sincere condolences
Bob & Lorraine Hopkins
Sue, so sorry to hear of your Mum’s passing. Please pass along my condolences to James and your extended family. I last talked to your Mum on the occasion of her 99th birthday when she regaled me with stories of all her family. She was so proud of you all. She was so surprised that so many people had being in touch to celebrate her. Mum and Dad valued their friendship with your parents that went back earlier than the War years and then, being neighbours at Mitchell’s and Hogan’s Pond made for many spur of the moment get togethers in their later years which they loved so much. I remember your mother’s kindness when SheShe passed and she dropped by with a complete meal for us. That was her way. You are in my thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.
What a terrific tribute to “Mrs. Baird”, as I always called her, even though she would insist otherwise. And a gorgeous photo of her too. She was an amazing human being. She touch our lives in so many ways. We feel truly lucky to have met her and have had her in our lives as long as we did. She was a constant source of joy and a true inspiration. We loved her as family and will miss her. But we know she is at peace and is finally reading her paper by the fire with her love, James again. Rest in Peace, my darling friend.
Susan (‘Sue’)….. It was such a wonderful pleasure seeing you, your David, and your Mom arrive for a ‘little visit’ last August. We sat beside the steps leading down into the ‘swimming area’ and your Mom recalled many, many fun swims that she and ‘She-She’ had there before going up to the house for a ‘Cuppa’ Tea and a ‘chat’. In my minds eye I see them all gathered in the shade under the Maple tree…. My Mom and Dad, Your Mom, your Dad, sometimes you and/or some other member of your family, sometimes others, and all discussing events that made the world go ’round. Such warm close friends making memories.
I spoke at length to your Mom on her Birthday last April. It was a wonderful conversation reminiscent of all the things that go together to make a life well and truly lived !
My family and I extend heartfelt warm wishes to you and all your family.
Mom and I want to pass on our sincere condolences to all the family. Glad was a wonderful friend to all and will be greatly missed. Her calls and visits particularly in the last couple of years were very much appreciated. We did mange to have a personal visit or two last year when restrictions were lifted and always a great chat. Of course her recipes live on and she will always be remembered when baking “Glad Bairds Gingerbreads” from mom’s hand written cookbook. Blessings to all
Jim, Angie and Family
“Where Beautiful Souls Have Travelled,
Beautiful Memories Remain Forever.”
Sending Deepest Sympathies, to each of you at this difficult time.
I will always treasure getting to know my buddy, Glad in a Calligraphy Course offered by the Y. Have a great afterlife my friend.
Dear James and family,,
Sincere condolences to you are your family!
Gladys will be Ever remembered and Ever loved! 💕
Thelma Neal
Christine and David Wright
Susan and James:
I was so saddened to learn of your mother’s passing.
I will remember all her visits to Hogan’s Pond with George and Sheila when I was lucky enough to be there. Your mom always brought a gift or a cookie to have with tea. Your mom was a very special, kind, generous person. I called her many times to have a catch up conversation. She loved to talk about her grand children and told me all sorts of stories. She had a wealth of information and I always came away from my calls with her feeling lifted for the day. I will miss her very much, but I am settled with the thought that she had a very long, full life. God bless all of you.
What a life! And what a wonderful tribute. Who could ask for more. A fantastic lady and one of the true greats in the Newfoundland community. So many memories. She will never be forgotten.
Love and Prayers to Susan and James and your hugely extended family. So thinking of you all.
Lynn (Munn) Regan
We send our sincere condolences to all the family at this very difficult time. Mrs. Baird was a very special person. We would have a nice chat when I would see her. She had a beautiful smile and she would light up a room always with her presence. She will truly be missed. Please know that you are all in our prayers and thoughts.
Susan and James – so sorry – she was such a great lady. Certainly a large part of our childhood. – and a life well lived !
To Susan, James and Family,
I have many happy memories of your Mom at Spencer and at your birthday parties. My Mom, Doreen Facey was a good friend through Spencer Club and often spoke of her.. May she rest in peace.
Anthea (Facey) Donnan.
My sincere condolences to her family I met Glad with my mother while shopping for Christmas in 2000. They talked and laughed for over an hour. When we left, my mother said that she was very well named because she always makes you glad to have seen her. My mother died 5 days after that , and true to her name , she came to my house with a casserole, cookies , and a lovely chat,. She left me with instructions on where to return the dish for another visit. After that , I had many visits to return dishes She was lovely and am very glad to have known her.
To James, Susan, and family,
My most heartfelt condolences be with you at this time. Mrs. Baird was a truly special neighbour and friend. She was one of the people whom I have known the longest, being in my life since I was born. She always made me gingerbread men for Christmas when I was growing up, and what superb biscuits they were! We would often have a cup of tea and some sweets, and it was this which inspired my love for tea, and of course serving it! I always enjoyed listening to Mrs. Baird tell the stories of her life, which were so interesting and told with incredible specificity, whether they were details of yesterday, or memories from the second world war. She was always interested to hear about what I was doing, whether it be school, music, or anything else. I will miss her dearly, but I will also be thankful for the long and healthy life that she lived.
To James, Susan and all of Mrs. Baird’s family, I extend my sincere condolences. She spoke of you all so often and was a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I am truly sorry for your loss.
I first met Mrs. Baird in the Spring of 1999 when we had just moved in next door to her. She came to the door carrying a dessert and dressed in a beautiful plaid skirt – Little did I know, that would be the beginning of one of the most valued friendships in my life.
To say that Mr.s Baird has influenced me in so many ways is an understatement. Just being in her presence made me want to be a better person (and perhaps a better dressed person.) She was always optimistic, encouraging, generous, gracious and was just a wealth of knowledge. I loved listening to all her stories about her family and about growing up in St. John’s, as her memory was just extraordinary. She was elegant in so many ways, but also hardworking and truly was multi-talented as she could sew, cook, bake, knit and garden like no one I knew. Not being the best baker myself, after several mediocre attempts at her recipes, one day she brought me over the actual ginger bread dough so I could at least roll it myself!
As heavy as my heart is, I truly feel blessed to have been able to have her in my life for as long as I did. She was one of a kind and I will carry her in my heart always. I will aways treasure her wisdom, her stories, her kindnesses and her warmth. She often told me that she enjoyed having friends of all ages, as it helped keep her young and up with the times. It’s funny that I never thought of her as old, I just thought of her as a special friend.
When we spoke on the phone in the evenings, she always ended by saying “Nighty Night, darling”, and that always made me feel good and made me smile. So Nighty Night, my darling friend. I will miss you dearly and will never forget you.
To James and Susan so sorry about your mother’s passing,. She contacted me periodically for a chat, she and I both enjoyed it. cousin Chris
To the Baird family.
We are very saddened to hear about your mother’s passing. She was a very kind and outgoing person. She had such a positive attitude and always had a smile. We send sincere condolences to you at this very difficult time. Rest in peace Mrs. Baird.
Our sincere condolences to the Baird Family
Mrs Baird was an icon
An inspiration to myself and my family and her huge circle of family and friends
It has been an honor to have been a part of her life
May her memory be eternal
Forever in our ❤️
Susan Ian Callum & Izabella OLeary
James Susan and family.
My sincere condolences on the passing of your dear Mother.
I had the pleasure of doing your moms hair for many years. She talked fondly of her family and I will always have her recipe of garlic mushrooms
Which were divine.
She certainly lived a full and long live and I will miss her in my chair.
Rest In Peace Glad.
It was a pleasure
Jackie Walsh🙏💕