Plattsburgh - Heidi Elizabeth (Baldwin) Hassinger

On Dec. 24th, 2022, Christmas Eve, the wonderful Heidi Elizabeth (Baldwin) Hassinger passed away at the age of 62. Heidi passed away at UVM in Burlington, Vt.

Heidi was scheduled to have gallbladder surgery on December 22nd, two days before her passing. Unfortunately, surgical complications at CVPH, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., caused Heidi to be airlifted to UVM. The doctors and nursing staff at UVM did their absolute best to keep Heidi alive.

Heidi put up a great fight against overwhelmingly short odds and allowed her two sons, Chad and Troy, to be by her side as she passed peacefully at 12:27 p.m. EST on Christmas Eve.

Heidi was born in Suffolk, England, on June 22nd, 1960, to parents Donald Carl Baldwin (Lt. Col - Air Force) and Betty Jean (Taylor) Baldwin. Upon news of Heidi's birth, Don telegraphed to the family: "You have a sister born Tuesday, Betsy is fine, Love, Don."

Heidi was predeceased by her mother, Betty Jean (Taylor) Baldwin (Sept. 2nd, 2012); brother, Jonathan Roger Eric Baldwin (Nov. 6th, 2010); and husband, Mark Steven Hassinger (Oct. 25th, 2011).

Heidi is survived by her two sons, Chad and Troy Hassinger of Plattsburgh; Heidi is also survived by her kitty-cat, Korra, of the Kingdom of the Cats; Heidi's siblings, Leslie A. Baldwin of Cabin John, Md., and Kim J. Baldwin of Plattsburgh are also surviving.

After graduating from Paul Smith's College and Florida International University, with a focus in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Heidi moved from Miami, Fla., to Albuquerque, N.M., to work at Sky Chefs. What started as career experience developed into a romance, as Heidi hired and began dating Mark Steven Hassinger. They were engaged three months later and got married on May 24th, 1986, in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Heidi and Mark eventually moved to Florida, where they both went on to work at the Walt Disney World Resort for over fifteen years. Heidi and Mark both worked in hospitality at Disney: Heidi was a restaurant manager and Mark was a waiter. On Sept. 24th, 1997, Heidi and Mark had two sons, Chad and Troy Hassinger, born at Arnold Palmer Hospital, in Orlando, Fla. The family of four and their two cats, Bugs and Bunny, would live in central Florida all the way up until the end of the 2000's.

Heidi and her sons then moved back up to Heidi's hometown of Plattsburgh, N.Y., in 2010. Unfortunately, shortly after, Mark passed away on Oct. 25th, 2011. Heidi mourned for her late husband, however, continued to serve as both mom and dad to Chad and Troy for the next eleven years. In this time, Heidi worked a variety of clerical and secretarial jobs until she retired (and bought her first house) in 2018.

In her later life, Heidi enjoyed building puzzles (often of cats doing cute things) and listening to Metallica (she swooned over James Hetfield) and classic 80's rock (Cinderella was amongst her favorite bands) and spending time with her sons. Heidi lived life freely and for her boys, Chad and Troy.

Heidi was soulful and passionate about life. She was preoccupied with the present moment - a free spirit being blown about in the wind. Heidi loved to garden and enjoyed feeding the animals who lived outside: the squirrels, birds, skunks, raccoons, opossums, chipmunks, and cats never went hungry because of Heidi's generosity.

Heidi was the best Mom a kid could ask for. Heidi passed away knowing that she was loved and had created a positive impact on the world. Heidi's actions not just as a Mom, but as a person, helped make the Earth a better place.

Beloved by everyone, a giddy personality to inspire hope in others she met, our Mom did just that: She lived. To the fullest.

We all wish we had more time with our Mom. As nice as more memories would have been, it does not change what a remarkable person that our Mom was, and we can only hope to live a fraction of the way she lived - to the fullest.

We love you, Ma.

A Celebration of Life for Heidi will be held on her birthday, June 22nd, of 2023. The Celebration of Life will be held at Brown Funeral Home, at 29 Broad Street in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The time will be determined at a later date. Thank you all, very much. :)