Joanne E. Griffith

Joanne E. Griffith – 70, of Baird Lane, passed away in the comfort of her family at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin on Monday, June 14, 2010 following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Montpelier on December 29, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Clesson E. and Florence (Baird) Eurich. Joanne was a 1957 graduate of Waitsfield High School and continued her education at the Utica (NY) School of Business where she earned her Associates Degree as a Medical Secretary. Following college Joanne worked as a secretary for the Vermont Commissioner of Agriculture in Montpelier before moving to Hartford CT where she was employed as a secretary in the Emergency Department at Mount Sinai Hospital. She later was employed by Anchorman Systems Answering Service in Enfield CT for many years. Returning to her Mad River Valley roots in 1989, Joanne worked for Valley Communications for several years, was a courier for Green Mountain Messenger and most recently worked as a cashier at the Mad River Glen Ski Area. In her leisure time she enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and traveling. She will be fondly remembered for her love and devotion to her entire family, especially her grandchildren. Joanne is survived by her partner in life, Andrew Baird, Jr. of Waitsfield; her daughter, Lori Martins and her husband, Jose of Ludlow MA; her sons, Brian Griffith and his wife, Rebeca of Suffield CT, and Mark Griffith and his wife, Beverly of Aurora CO; Andrew's children, Mistylee Miller of Richmond, James Baird and his partner, Toni Legge of Fayston, and Tiger Baird of Waitsfield; her grandchildren, Jessica and Ryan Griffith, Angela, Rebecca, Olivia and Alyssa Martins, Eden Ettienne, Kelly Baird, Andrew Baird IV, Alexander Baird and Carleigh Baird; a great-grandson, Lucas Longtin; 2 sisters, Carol Downer and her partner, Ernest DeChaine of Lanesboro MA, and Susan McDonald and her husband, Dennis of Broken Arrow OK; 2 brothers, Kevin Eurich and his wife, Sheila of Warren, and Steven Eurich and his wife, Elaine of No. Fayston; her bother-in-law, Donald Demas of Northfield; 3 aunts, Barbara Eldredge of Waterbury, Madaline Kingsbury of Waitsfield, and Christine Crill of Rome NY; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. A sister, Nancy Demas, 2 nephews, Michael Downer and Alan Demas, a brother-in-law, Phillip Downer, an uncle, Edward Eurich, and Andrew Baird's daughter-in-law, Erin Baird predeceased Joanne. A service to celebrate the life of Joanne Griffith will be held from the Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 11 a.m. with inurnment to follow in the Waitsfield Common Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. For those who wish memorial gifts would be appreciated to the American Heart Association, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston VT 05495 (www.americanheart.org.), or to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston VT 05495 (www.cancer.org.). To send on-line condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.