Shirley Baird

Shirley Ann Baird, 94 of Cassidy Place - Staten Island NY, passed away on Thursday, May 16 2024. She was born and raised in Staten Island, NY living in West Brighton,Eltingville and New Brighton. She was one of 7 siblings. At a young age Shirley helped her mom raise the family after the loss of her father. She also cared for an ailing sister, Marcel Lorraine Decaro. She held various jobs in Staten Island and New Jersey having worked in retail at Majors Liquor City, waitressed at the Dongan Diner

in West Brighton, was hostess and part-owner of the New Yorker Deli Restaurant in Elizabeth, NJ with her late husband and dear in-laws, James and Florence Baird. She did clerical work for Personal Tax Service and finally settled working in her home Cassidy Coles Senior Center for many years performing exercise instruction and administrative duties.

Shirley’s hobbies included caring for her many pets over the years including dogs, beloved cats, birds and fish. She was especially fond of her current cat, Cassidy. She also loved caring for her many plants and flowers both inside her apartment and on the balcony outside. For many years, Shirley enjoyed spending time in the Catskill Mountains, often on leaf-peeping road trips in the fall. She loved attending the annual Oktoberfest celebration at Hunter Mountain and shopping in Cooperstown, NY.

Shirley, born on Halloween in 1929, was the life of the party with a great sense of humor. She had loving warmth that touched everyone she knew. She enjoyed living in her Cassidy Place apartment and was everyone’s friend in the senior center where she worked and socialized daily for many years. Most of all, she was a dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was passionate about spending quality time with her family. Shirley will be remembered for her kind smile, beautiful blue eyes, great sense of humor, and will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Edward T. Baird Sr. : brothers, Richard, Robert, and Joseph Moore, sister Marcel Loraine Decaro, and mother Katherine Ricky Moore, and father Shirley Edward Moore, and son Edward T. Baird Jr. SHe was also predeceased by son-in-law Anthony Lagotta. Shirley is survived her sister, Maureen Antoinetti and brother James Moore. Her daughters, Collen Lagotta, and Melody Baird-Vanni and her husband Arthur Vanni, and daughter-in-law Wendy Burgess Baird; grandchildren, Anthony Lagotta, David Lagotta (Laura), Christopher Vanni (Sabrina), Thea Baird, Vanessa Vanni (Ricky), and Desiree Vanni (Doug); Edward T. Baird the third, Lindsay Baird, Jamie Plisner (Elvis), and great-grandchildren, Madyson, Chelsea, Matthew, Aiden, John, Max, Claire, Leo, Reece, Kirsten, and Kailyn, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Avenue Staten Island, NY 10310 on Wednesday, May 23, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

A private Cremation will follow.

For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/new-york/staten-island/harmon-funeral-home/1149