A giving heart, an industrious soul, a loving and wonderful wife and mother, Joan died peacefully at St. Andrews Village early on March 6, 2021. Despite pandemic restrictions, her daughter Melissa had seen her less than 24 hours before her passing and had let her know how much her family loved and adored her and wanted her spirit to be peacefully released.
The daughter of Duane Stigers and Jean Dickey, Joan was born in Punxsutawney, Pa. on March 28, 1932. Raised in Indiana, she attended Horace Mann School and graduated from Indiana High School. When the Indiana Junior High school underwent renovations in the early 2000’s, she was the driving force behind saving the bas-relief of a WWI doughboy on its north side.
Inspired by giving back to her community, Joan was past president of the Indiana Chapter of Zonta International, board member of The Indiana County Historical Society, Indiana Free Library, The Salvation Army and the IUP Museum Board. As an avid glass collector, she was a member of the Indiana Glass Club, a founding member of Indiana Questers/Shaver’s Springs Chapter and the curator of the IUP Museum Indiana/Dugan Glass exhibition. Over many years, she served in multiple roles in the leadership of Grace United Methodist Church. Her soul excelled at generosity, empathy and compassion. A proud graduate of The University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts degree, she met the love of her life Robert Baird Jr. while commuting every week to Pitt. After raising two children and becoming a consummate homemaker, she had a second life as a key member of the Baird Insurance Agency, which became Koontz, George & Baird, and later worked at retailer Lucy Rae in downtown Indiana.
She is survived by her sister Diane Frangione (Ron), Marlton, NJ and nephews Carl and Michael Frangione; her brother-in-law David R. Baird of Myrtle Beach, SC and one niece Jan Baird; son Robert Christian and his wife Phillippa (Pip) of Brooklyn NY; her daughter Melissa Baird Kittelmann and son, Robert Maxwell Kittelmann of Indiana; and canine family member, Sir Tucker Pete.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and in 1991 by her beloved husband, one of Indiana, Pa’s true heroes, Robert Baird Jr. and a nephew, David Baird.
A service honoring Joan’s life will be held at Grace United Methodist Church at a later time. The family suggests memorial contributions can be made to Indiana VNA/Hospice or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
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