Matilda "Tilda" Ann (Turner) Baldwin

Matilda “Tilda” (Turner) Baldwin, 89, died peacefully at Rose Court at Linden Ponds in Hingham on July 17, 2020. She fulfilled her wish of making it to her 90th year.

Born and raised in Rockland, Tilda was the youngest of four sisters. She graduated from Rockland High School in 1948, and attended every class reunion she could. After high school, she went to work as a telephone operator for New England Telephone & Telegraph Company. Three years later, friends set up a blind date for Tilda with Ted Baldwin from Norwell. She always said it was love at first sight.

After Tilda and Ted married in 1954, they lived with Tilda’s parents while Ted built their family home at 122 Central Street in Norwell. The family they started in 1956 became Tilda’s best and favorite life’s work. She adored her three girls, and they adored her back. Tilda built a home life filled with love, kindness, unwavering support, laughter, and fun.

While Ted protected Norwell as a policeman, Tilda protected her family from the fears and concerns of a police officer’s wife. Before Norwell had its own police station or communications center – and only one patrolman – Tilda even served as dispatcher from home, contacting Rockland Police when a call came in so they could call Dad in his cruiser.

Tilda modeled for her girls what it meant to be an authentic Christian and a good citizen of her community. For fifty years, she was an active member of UCC Norwell, of which she and Ted were charter members. She was committed to the Ministry of Caring, writing countless notes to members; preparing meals for Quincy Crisis Center; serving meals at Mainspring House; and picking up and delivering day-old bread to homeless shelters with the Food Circle. Tilda received a citation from the Massachusetts legislature for her years of work on the Norwell Beautification Committee, where she was instrumental in creating the Adopt-A-Street program. Everything Tilda did was for the good of others and without fanfare.

When grandkids came along, Tilda embraced her new role with joy. Nana was devoted to Amy, Maggie, Matthew, RJ, and Andrew. She and Grampa traveled wherever necessary to see their grandchildren. They were always present for sporting events, dance recitals, and band concerts, as well as the big milestones like high school and college graduations and weddings. Tilda was a skilled cake decorator and always at the ready to create the right cake for every occasion, from getting a driver’s license to getting married. Most recently, she was delighted to become Great Nana to Daniel, Nora, Kayla, and Charlotte.

Tilda was predeceased in 2019 by her husband of 64 years, Ted. She is survived and loved by her three daughters Betsy Baldwin Brink and her husband John of Norwell, MA; Carla Baldwin McRae and her husband David of Raynham, MA; and Tracey Baldwin Shea and her husband Bob of Burlington, NC, in addition to her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Given the current circumstances, a private interment will be held at UCC Norwell. A celebration of Tilda’s life will be scheduled when it is safe to gather.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tilda’s memory may be made to either of two organization that were dear to her: Father Bill’s & Mainspring House at https://helpfbms.org/donate/; or UCC Norwell Memorial Fund. (For UCC Norwell, checks made out to “UCC Norwell” with “Tilda Baldwin” on the memo line can be mailed to 460 Main Street, Norwell, MA 02061. Or you may donate online. Select “Memorial Fund” under “UCC Norwell” and type “Tilda Baldwin” in the blank field next to the dollar amount.)

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