Alice was born in Granby, Quebec, Canada on March 13, 1913. The oldest child of Alfred Hubert and Delia Gauthier (who died in 1918 after giving birth to their fourth child), her father moved the family to Massachusetts in 1929 when Alice was 16. In addition to working very hard to help raise her 8 younger siblings, she worked full time in a textile mill in Indian Orchard. On her 18th birthday, with no money in her pocket and only speaking French, she left home to make her way in the world. For the next 11 years, she lived at the Springfield YWCA and worked candling eggs at the A&P supermarket warehouses. During WWII she worked for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft as a cutter grinder.
In 1942, Alice married Charles U. Baiardi and moved to Southwick, MA in a house he built across from South Pond of Congamond Lakes where she lived for over 70 years. Until 1966, Alice and Charlie owned and operated Smith Beach and raised their three daughters. She started her vintage business in 1968 and was a familiar face at flea markets and fairs throughout New England and in New York.
Family and friends will always remember Alice as a generous, humorous and genuine personality. When asked what accounted for her longevity she would say, “hard work, a positive attitude and to love everyone.” She always found the silver lining and, even at 100, she still had a twinkle in her eye and a warm charming smile. She was overjoyed to receive a signed congratulatory letter from President Obama on her centennial.
Alice was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church since its first Mass in 1942 and a 50-year member of the Southwick Women’s Club.
Most of all she will be remembered as a sweet, loving and giving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Alice is survived by her three daughters, Barbara, Charlene and Patricia, Barbara’s husband Bob Theis and Patricia’s husband Joseph Kantorski, grandchildren Stephanie and Elizabeth Kantorski, and Luke and Samantha Lydiard and great-grandchildren Alice and Silas Mullan. She will be deeply missed by all.
A Memorial mass will be held at 12:30 PM, Saturday, November 21st at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 224 Sheep Pasture Road, Southwick, MA, and all who knew her are welcome. The family would love to hear and share stories about Alice and, above all, smile together at her memory. www.legacy-funeralhome.com
