Reverend Nancy Baird (21 Sep 1939 - 12 Nov 2021)

I met Nancy last year in the first lockdown when I was doing some cooking for her while she was recovering from an operation. We got chatting on the doorstep at first and then over tea when restrictions lifted and we had some great conversations. Nancy gave great advice and encouragement to me personally as well as sharing some amazing photos and anecdotes from her travels.
I enjoyed her company greatly and admired her spirit and zest for life.
I will miss her greatly.

My dearest friend,
I have more than twenty years of memories. So, is hard for me to know where to begin. I met you in a remote Romanian village, in the northern Carpathians, in a region called Maramures, a place that we both fell in love with. We were both there for the first time and we never knew that this place would remain in our hearts so profoundly. We came back to this place over and over again. And each time you came to Romania our friendship grew. We had amazing journeys and special encounters with so many people, wherever we travelled. Actually this was the thing that you loved most, meeting people! To have the time to chat with them, like time didn’t matter at all. You were amased by the benches in Maramures in front of people’s houses where you will always find someone sitting and willing to talk to you. You said to me that one day you will have your bench in front of your house. And you did. But you said that sadly it is not the same as in Maramures.
I admired your courage and determination to travel to undiscovered places, to always be open to explore new places in Romania. We were pioneers in a land that gradually opened to other travellers. It was only a matter of time before the modern world came marching over the mountains.We didn’t realise how lucky we were to experience a fragile old way of life that was dissapearing so quickly. And to be accepted and embraced with such an open heart by the people we met. On our journeys we met people that touched our hearts forever and they became part of your extended family. Many times you said to me that you can’t wait to come to Romania, to your family. I remember once, when we travelled in Maramures, that you told me that if I was ever have a child you wanted to be be their godmother. Years later I had a daughter that I named her Mara, after „our” Maramures. You came to Romania at her baptism together with a dear mutual priest friend and so my daughter had three priests doing the baptism ceremony! It was one of my happiest days of my life!
You touched so many parts of my life, your memory will always be with me and I hope to be always inspired by your spirit, your joy for life, your love of people and for meaningful experiences that matter in life.
Dormi in pace!

We shared a love of Romania and her people. Nancy introduced me to some good friends. Together we struggled to learn the language around her dining table. The word "verbele" will always be associated with her. A loving friend, a good priest, sorely missed

May you rest in peace my dear Nancy. You were a sweet and caring friend and I feel blessed and honoured to have met you 22 years ago. We shared many things and created many memories over the years in all your visits to our beautiful Romania, which you loved so much. You will be missed and remembered fondly always. Dumnezeu sa te odihneasca, draga mea