Shirley A Baier

Schenectady- On August 30, 2021 Shirley (Przekop) Baier, 84 of Rotterdam passed away peacefully into the hands of the Lord after a long and courageous battle. She was a life-long resident of the Schenectady area attending St Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Mont Pleasant H.S. Class of 1955. Soon after she joined the workforce first with NY Telephone Co., later with General Electric as a secretary, and various other companies in Rotterdam while she raised her two sons. In 1981 she started her dream job at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna as an Administrative Assistant, until her retirement in 2006 at the age of 70. She was a member of the GE Women's Club and also a proud member of the ‘DDIP’ Girls Group which continued to gather since high school. Her kindness and generosity were unmatched as a sponsor in helping members of AA to maintain sobriety since 1979. Shirley's greatest joy was being there for her two boys, never missing a Little League, High School football or basketball game. No matter the weather conditions you could always find her in the bleachers cheering loudly. In her final years she would be watching sports on TV, rooting for her NY Yankees and NY Giants to win another championship. Shirley always had an inner beauty and peaceful presence that everyone was drawn to. She had so many friends and coworkers that she cherished and cared deeply about them as if they were her own family. Shirley also had the rare distinction of being a sister, aunt and mother to 3 SFD Fire Captains over a 6 decade span. Along with her youngest son's service as a Sgt. in the US Army, with tours in both Germany and Bosnia, only God knows how many masses, prayer groups and candles were lit for all her family and friends. Her favorite prayer was the Serenity Prayer - “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Shirley is predeceased by her parents John Przekop and Helen (Grabowski) Przekop, by her brother Jack Przekop and sister-in-law Sally Przekop, and former husband Ronald J. Baier She is survived by her two sons Ron of Mariaville,NY and Scott(Rachel) of Bonita Springs, FL., grandchildren Christian of Mariaville and Christopher, Joseph, Catherine, John, and David of Bonita Springs, her niece and nephews Patty, Mike(Candy) and John(Marie) Przekop, also Michael, AJ and Heather, as well as dozens of her fun loving Polish cousins whom she loved deeply. She was a lifelong Catholic and communicant of Our Lady Queen of Peace, St.Paul’s, St.John’s,and St. Anthony’s churches. Sincere thanks goes to the wonderful staffs of Home Helpers Health Care, Community Hospice, Meals on Wheels, and Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s for their endless caring, compassion and professionalism, as well as Father Carlino, Schenectady Fire Dept. Chaplain, Rev. John A. Califano, and RJ DeLuccia. Calling hours will be on Sept. 5th from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. at Demarco Stone Funeral Home and then immediately after on to her final resting place at St. Joseph Cemetery, Albany St. Schenectady. Instead of flowers, the family requests making a donation to Schenectady Firefighter’s Cancer Foundation. Arrangements by R.J. DeLuccia Funeral Service.