Emma Elizabeth (Berger) Baird, departed this earth March 15th, 2018, after 99 years, to reunite with her late husband, Leroy Baird (d. 1991), and daughter, Shirley (Baird) Meland (d. 2016), in peaceful eternity.
Emma was born January 18th, 1919 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Hungarian immigrant parents. After spending time there and in St. Louis, MO, Emma soon made her way to San Diego, CA. She and her sister worked in a pie shop near the military base, where she met her beloved husband, Roy. The two were married in 1940. After living in San Diego, while Roy served in the military, the couple moved slightly north to Carlsbad, CA in 1950. Emma gave birth to four children and fulfilled her job as a mother with great care and dedication. She and Roy also owned a car repair shop in the Carlsbad Village – “A1 Automotive.” Emma took care of the billing side and would often pile her kids in the car, and drive around town collecting on debts – a testament to her ability to fulfill any role and work incredibly hard. Emma remained hard working her entire life, finally retiring at the age of 83 from Carlsbad High School, where she was a baker in the cafeteria for 30 years. She was famous, according to generations of students, for her cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies! Emma often volunteered in her community by collecting donations for the “March of Dimes” organization, running the food wagon at little league games, and supporting the local Optimist Club, which gave back to the City of Carlsbad.
Emma was a strong, determined, thoughtful and opinionated woman. She did not shy away from what she knew to be right. A fierce champion for her children and grandchildren, Emma always stood behind her family with unrelenting pride and unprecedented love. An unbelievable sense of humor (and a touch of sass) made her equally loved by all those lucky enough to have met her. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, and cooking. If you visited her home, you were sure to leave with a full belly and an armful of fruit from her trees in the backyard. Reading up/commenting on current events, watching San Diego Padre baseball games, listening to Elvis and George Strait, and spending time with her kids and grandkids were also amongst Emma’s favorite past times.
The Baird family has lost its matriarch, but heaven just gained one hell of an angel! Emma is survived by her three sons – Frank, Jim, and Tom Baird – her eleven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, extended family members – Quint Meland, Mike Cicero, Cathe Baird, Judith Baird - and countless, loving friends. She is incredibly loved, painfully missed, and joyfully remembered by all of them!
A memorial service will be held to honor Emma’s amazing life on Friday, April 6th, 2018 at Eternal Hills Cemetery, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the “March of Dimes” organization in Emma’s name.
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