Christie Ann (Baker) Ward

The family of Christie Ann Baker Smith D’Addio Ward of Orange, CT is deeply saddened to announce her passing on August 9, 2025, at the age of 77. She was predeceased by her mother, Eleanor Baker, and father John Baker. She is survived by her husband, Howard and children, Pam (William), Lynn, Jennifer (Robert), Christopher (Christina), John Michael, Marc, and Catherine and 10 grandchildren and her brother John (Denise).

Born in Norwalk, CT June 18, 1948, and moved to Orange, CT into a house built by her mother, father, and grandparents, shortly after. Except for a brief period of time spent in West Haven, she lived her life as a proud Orange resident. She started her education in the Orange school system and went on to further education at Waynefleet, a private school in Maine, then receiving her RN/BSN at SCSU.

Christie was always first in her classes, she would say the other students were always mad at her because she ruined every curve. She started her working career at Miles (Bayer) Labs as a chemist and then went on to work for over 30 years as an RN at Saint Raphael Hospital, while raising her family of seven children. She enjoyed her time at Saint Ray’s as an ICU nurse and eventually ended up working in the psych department. After leaving Saint Ray’s she tried several jobs, including visiting nurse and a short stent as the head nurse of a retirement home, but she finally found her dream “retirement” job working for her long-time doctor and friend, Dr. Frank Mongillo, as his office nurse/receptionist.

We wish to thank the staff of the Yale New Haven Hospital, Smilow Cancer Center, especially the thoracic team led by Dr. Woodard and the nurses, aids and sitters on the 15th floor who took such personal care of her and after at Connecticut Hospice in Branford who also gave her loving and tender care in her final days.

Services will be held the evening of Friday, August 15, 2025, from 5 o’clock until 7 o’clock at the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green, 662 Savin Avenue, West Haven, CT. At 6:30 PM in the funeral parlor, the Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard will share their Nightingale Tribute to Christie.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Connecticut Hospice or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A family celebration of Christie’s life will be held at a future date.

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