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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BAIRD, Karen Elizabeth - It is with tremendous sadness that we share the news of the passing of Karen Elizabeth Baird on December 6, 2020.She died peacefully in her home, in Point-du-Chêne, surrounded by family, after a nineteen-year battle with breast cancer, which she fought with unrelenting courage. She leaves behind her husband, André Touchburn, her son, Jeremy Touchburn, and daughter, Hayley Touchburn, all from Moncton; as well as her parents, Myrna and Mel Baird, of Dartmouth, NS; her sister, Katherine and brother-in-law Mark, of Alexandria, Virginia; her brother, Robert, sister-in-law Karen, niece Paige and nephew Duncan, of Stamford, Connecticut; and numerous other family and friends. And of course, her constant furry companion, Milo, whom she would accompany to The Moncton Hospital for therapy dog visits to long-term care patients. Karen obtained a Masters in Speech and Language pathology from Dalhousie University in 1990. She served for eight years in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve, rising to the rank of Petty Officer, second class. She worked for 30 years in the department of Speech and Hearing at The Moncton Hospital, providing speech therapy to preschoolers. After her initial diagnosis of breast cancer in 2001, Karen led the effort to found New Brunswick's first Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat team, 'tit Bateau. Karen loved the outdoors and adored all animals. She spent countless hours, exploring nature, hiking in the woods, and spending time on the beautiful beach of Cap Brûlé West. She also loved scuba diving and managed to see the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef in all its glory. She loved the Arts. She was a big fan of classic movies, stand-up comedy, and Broadway musicals. Music was in her DNA, as a flautist in her early years and as someone who always had a song on her lips. She was an avid traveler. She adored travelling to see performances, to explore beautiful cities, and to enjoy the fun and thrills of theme parks. Always with her family. She was passionate about hobbies and crafts. She was a skilled photographer who loved to capture the beauty of nature and joyful memories with family. Karen was a highly accomplished decorator of Ukrainian Pysanky Easter eggs. Her body of work is stunning, and she offered many workshops in this art to friends and colleagues. Karen was also an avid collector of local art and Inuit sculpture of dancing bears. She spent many hours combing the beaches of the Maritimes with her daughter and her friend Kelly, collecting sea glass which she sometimes turned into clever works of art. More than anything, she was a collector of friends and of memories with them, and her family. She inspired everyone she knew with her honesty, her humour, her spontaneity, her loyalty, and most of all her courage. She was fiercely loyal, and her thoughtfulness was epic. She would do anything for any friend and all her family. Without even trying to, she brought out the best in everyone's lives she touched Her joyful singing and whistling will forever be missed from the halls of her workplace, and her home. Rest in peace, Sweet Heart of a Lion. The family will receive condolences in Frenette Funeral and Cremation Centre, 396 Main Street, Shediac (532-3297) on Thursday, December 10th from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. only. A funeral service will be held at a later date. Due to the pandemic, face coverings are required and a maximum participation of 50 people at a time with social distancing regulations are in effect. Donations in Karen's memory can be made to the Arbre de l'espoir/Tree of Hope Campaign (https://arbredelespoir.ca/fr/) or to the Greater Moncton SPCA (https://www.monctonspca.ca/en) Cremation and funeral arrangements are under the direction of Frenette Funeral and Cremation Centre, Shediac (532-3297). (Halifax Chronicle-Herald 09 Dec 2020)
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