Gordana Baic

January 25, 1936 - January 9, 2022

Gordana Baic of Traverse City, Michigan, passed on on January 9th, 2022, surrounded by loving family and friends. Born in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, on January 25th, 1936, she was the only child of Aleksandar and Ksenja Jankovich. In 1959, she married her true love, Proka Baic, and they welcomed their only child Olga in 1962. Gordana came to the United States in 1966 to build a better life for her family and became a proud US citizen in 1973. Her determined nature helped her build an impactful career in child care. In 1972, just three years after becoming a teacher at Central Day Care center, Gordana was promoted to their Director. She served in this role for 30 years before retiring in 2002. She absolutely adored children, and the thousands who attended the daycare throughout her tenure were enriched by “Mrs. Baic’s” loving yet no-nonsense guidance. Her gift for sage advice didn’t just say at the office. Life’s secrets were passed on to her only granddaughter over egg salad sandwiches at Miliken’s tea room (advice Ashley always remembered but didn’t understand until much later.) Other guidance, while always from heart, wasn’t made to be understood. A favorite of her close family is when she reminded her granddaughter, “It’s important to have friends...” before pausing to think and adding, “...I don’t have any.” The truth is, Gordana had many close friends all over the world. She and Proka traveled often and had a knack for making fast friends wherever they went, including Canada, Germany, and back home in Yugoslavia. Late in life, she found new close friends like Tammy and Linda, who kept her “lunching with the ladies.” Always a community fixture, even during her last lunch date, she was approached by someone who remembered her as “Mrs. Baic.” Above all, Gordana was a beloved wife, mother, baka, and teta. She is survived by her daughter Olga Topash (James), granddaughter Ashley Dominici (Dru), and sister-in-law Maria Baic. She is preceded in death by her husband Proka, her sister-in-law Olga Champt (Marcel), and her brothers-in-law Nikola Baic and Vojin Baic (Pat). Gordona is fondly remembered by her entire extended Baic family, including many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.