Florence M. "Mickey" Baird, 95, of Mendota, passed peacefully from this life on March 29, 2022, surrounded by her loving family .

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at Holy Cross Church, Mendota with Father Jeff Windy officiating. Burial will be At Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.

Florence "Mickey" Funfsinn was born July 25, 1926, at home in Troy Grove Township, to Leo V. and Gertrude M. (Schmidt) Funfsinn. She married J. Louis "Louie" Baird, on September 1, 1953, in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Peterstown.

Mickey grew up during the Depression, working hard on the family farm. She stayed behind to do so, enabling her sister, Margaret, to attend nursing school and attain her RN, the fact of which made Mickey very proud. Finally venturing off the farm, Mickey found she loved interacting with the public, and sought out jobs that enabled her to do so: as a flirty waitress at Faber Hotel, a knowledgeable clerk at the five and dime, and finally as a quick, competent assistant to Dr. Bob Krenz in his dental practice, Mickey had a ready smile, helping hands and a quick happy laugh. Finally, Mickey dove headfirst into what she always claimed was her best and most important job–motherhood. She readily volunteered at school, in parent and youth organizations, and as neighborhood Mom to so many. It was through her daughter that Mickey became involved in Camp Fire, an involvement that she loved and would continue for most of her life. She first became a club leader, then a Committee member and finally joined the Board of Directors, ultimately serving as their President for many years. Mickey also volunteered with Cub Scouts, the Altar Sodality of Holy Cross Church, and as a 'Pink Lady' at Mendota Community Hospital. She could never turn down an opportunity to help others, and as one of the earliest members of Post 4079 Ladies' Auxiliary, and a Life Member, Mickey was active in various positions and activities, including past president of both the local and District organizations, served as State and National Delegate and as the official liaison for the Veterans Memorial Council, notifying members of events, funerals and parades. She served many years as Grave Registrar, placing flags on deceased members' graves at various cemeteries throughout the area. A task her grandchildren loved to share.

With Louie, she took up bowling, and found she truly enjoyed it. She bowled for many years on local teams, traveling leagues, and competed locally, State-wide and Nationally–prompting her first plane trip to Arizona!

Although her formal education stopped before graduating high school, she loved numbers, and was a wiz at math. She enjoyed crocheting–sharing holiday pins, baby and full-sized afghans with others, and won several blue ribbons at the Tri-county Fair. She sewed many of her own and her daughter and

granddaughters' clothes–becoming adventurous when her grandson demanded equal attention with holiday shirts to match his sisters' dresses. She was meticulous with needlework, and was known for her Christmas fruitcakes.

She is survived by one daughter, Pat (Gary) Sessler of Mendota; one son, John (Kris) Baird of Troy Grove; six grandchildren, Amber, Justin and Finn Sessler and Peyton, Bailey and Jace Baird; four great grandchildren, Austin Sessler, Savannah, Storm and Serenity Hannen; and two great great grandsons, Jacob Hannen and Jackson Clemann. One brother, Leonard Sondgeroth, of Mendota, also survives.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lou, her parents, one brother, Francis "Smiley" Funfsinn, two sisters, Margaret F. Engels, and Barbara Ann Mann, one granddaughter, Staci J. Sessler in 2020, and one great granddaughter, Skye Margaret Hannen in 2006.

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